Barbarastollen underground archive, Underground archive in Oberried, Germany
Barbarastollen is an underground archive that stretches 700 meters into the mountain and stores over one billion images on microfilm in stainless steel containers. The facility sits around 400 meters beneath rock layers and uses the natural mountain setting for long-term document preservation.
The facility began as a mine shaft in 1903 and was converted during the 1970s Cold War period into Germany's central document preservation center. This repurposing enabled secure storage of valuable archive materials protected by rock from external threats.
The archive holds important documents from German history, including the Peace of Westphalia and founding records of major cultural institutions. Visitors can see how pivotal moments of the past are protected and preserved for future generations.
The archive is not open to visitors, as it operates under strict security protocols to protect the documents. Those interested can contact the institutions that store their collections there to learn more about the conservation methods used.
This is one of only five archives worldwide designated for special protection under the UNESCO Hague Convention for Cultural Property. This designation reflects the extraordinary importance of the collections stored here for humanity.
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