BunkArt 1, Tirana (must see)
BunkArt 1 is an anti-nuclear bunker built by the communist regime in 1978. It is a five-floor palace, built entirely underground. It has 106 rooms that include an assembly hall that is now used as a center for art and historical learning. BunkArt shows what Albanian life was like during 45 years of communist rule.
BunkArt 1 has a historical exhibition that covers five areas of life in Communist Albania. These five areas are Albania Under the Fascist Italy, Diplomacy During the War, Albania Under the German Invasion, The After War: Hope and Disappointment and Albania After Liberation.
Visitors can see both Enver Hoxha and Mehmet Shehu's shelters. Enver Hoxha was the supreme commander of armed forces when the bunker was constructed. Mehmet Shehu was the prime minister and supervisor of the bunker's construction. Both of these areas include an anteroom, an office, a bedroom and a bathroom.
A standard officer's room is on display as well. It contains authentic officer uniforms and military equipment. The chief of staff's shelter can also be toured. This was meant to be used as a place for meeting in case of war. It includes a gathering area, a waiting room and living quarters.
Another feature of BunkArt 1 is the Inter-communication Museum. Separated from the rest of the tunnels for unknown reasons, this area was meant to be the base of communications. Original communication devices used by the Albanian army are on display in the Inter-communication Museum.
BunkArt 1 is located outside of the center of Tirana but it is still easily reached and a must-see spot in the city. It is open seven days per week from 9:30 AM to 5 PM.
BunkArt 1 has a historical exhibition that covers five areas of life in Communist Albania. These five areas are Albania Under the Fascist Italy, Diplomacy During the War, Albania Under the German Invasion, The After War: Hope and Disappointment and Albania After Liberation.
Visitors can see both Enver Hoxha and Mehmet Shehu's shelters. Enver Hoxha was the supreme commander of armed forces when the bunker was constructed. Mehmet Shehu was the prime minister and supervisor of the bunker's construction. Both of these areas include an anteroom, an office, a bedroom and a bathroom.
A standard officer's room is on display as well. It contains authentic officer uniforms and military equipment. The chief of staff's shelter can also be toured. This was meant to be used as a place for meeting in case of war. It includes a gathering area, a waiting room and living quarters.
Another feature of BunkArt 1 is the Inter-communication Museum. Separated from the rest of the tunnels for unknown reasons, this area was meant to be the base of communications. Original communication devices used by the Albanian army are on display in the Inter-communication Museum.
BunkArt 1 is located outside of the center of Tirana but it is still easily reached and a must-see spot in the city. It is open seven days per week from 9:30 AM to 5 PM.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Tirana. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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BunkArt 1 on Map
Sight Name: BunkArt 1
Sight Location: Tirana, Albania (See walking tours in Tirana)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Sight Location: Tirana, Albania (See walking tours in Tirana)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Nearby Sights
Walking Tours in Tirana, Albania
Create Your Own Walk in Tirana
Creating your own self-guided walk in Tirana is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Tirana Introduction Walking Tour
In Tirana, even apartment blocks were once given a public mission. Under artist-turned-mayor Edi Rama, gray façades from the communist years were painted in bold colors, turning ordinary streets into a visible sign of recovery after the long isolation.
Tirana, the capital of Albania, has a history shaped by crossroads, empire, isolation, and rapid reinvention. Although the wider area was... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.9 Km or 0.6 Miles
Tirana, the capital of Albania, has a history shaped by crossroads, empire, isolation, and rapid reinvention. Although the wider area was... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.9 Km or 0.6 Miles
Communist Heritage Sites
Imagine a country so afraid of invasion that it built a bunker for every four citizens. Welcome to Tirana, where fear was cast in concrete.
Tirana’s Communist Heritage Sites are best understood through the strange and severe history of Albania in the second half of the 20th century. After World War II, the country came under the rule of Enver Hoxha, who led Albania from 1944 until his death... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.8 Km or 1.1 Miles
Tirana’s Communist Heritage Sites are best understood through the strange and severe history of Albania in the second half of the 20th century. After World War II, the country came under the rule of Enver Hoxha, who led Albania from 1944 until his death... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.8 Km or 1.1 Miles