K20, Military command bunker in Kandersteg, Switzerland.
K20 is a military command complex near Kandersteg, built deep into a mountainside and made up of large caverns connected by a network of tunnels. Each section was designed for a different function, together forming a complete underground facility.
Construction of this federal bunker began in 1986, when Cold War tensions still shaped Swiss security planning. After the Berlin Wall fell, the project was adapted to reflect the new international situation of the 1990s.
The bunker gives a direct sense of how seriously Switzerland planned for the protection of its population, with rooms built to house government operations and secure national resources. Walking through the halls, visitors can see how that planning translated into concrete, functional spaces.
Getting inside involves riding an underground rail system that carries visitors to the core areas of the facility. Sturdy shoes are recommended, and a warm layer is a good idea since temperatures stay cool underground throughout the year.
The facility was designed to shelter around a thousand people in an emergency, including staff needed to keep government functions running. That number gives a sense of how large and how concrete the preparations for a possible crisis were.
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