In the 1950’s the place was prepared for the event of a nuclear war. The project even included two hermetic gates at each side of the tunnel. Such a shelter could be used for 1 200 inhabitants of Prague 3 and Prague 8 as well as local factories employees. The gate frames can be seen a few metres from the entrance, however, the gate has never been installed. However, the shelter has been there since 1953 and is ready to be used.
Corridors for the living and the dead
When entering the tunnel in Karlín, we can see several doors on the left hand side, which could be used to store dead bodies. The corridors on the right are for those who are alive. Most of them are galleries, the others are an entrance to the shelter. The shelter is protected with a thick metal door with security components.
To get to the interior of Vítkov, sometimes to the depth of 30 metres under ground, with a possible exit near Pernerova Street near a bus station, we need to pass through a little club room, which is rented to a private subject. There are other rooms as well, some of them technical, others habitable: they are not very wide but they are fine for a training centre and several concerts that have taken place in the shelter. Naturally, it is not the main use of the whole place.
Shelter for three days
The shelter, which can be divided into two separate shelters, has its own water supply, air supply, insulation and electricity feed. All this should be able to last for 72 hours. Stable temperature in the shelter reaches about 15ºC. The rooms are empty. In case of danger, people would made use of the humanitarian aid storage with chairs, beds, covers, water, food, medicaments and e.g. nappies.
Although the shelter has never been used in a war, it has remained maintained and prepared for a potential disaster.
