In a small town in the middle of what now is the country of Bosnia and Herzegovina, a relic of Yugoslavia can be found hidden under a normal looking house. Known as ARK D-0, it is a truly fascinating experience and an insight into the constant fear of nuclear annihilation.
Getting to Konjic
This place is located in the town of Konjic and it is quite easy to get to from either Sarajevo or Mostar. You can take the train which an experience in itself which stops at Konjic, as the trains are infrequent it might be a good idea to stay in Konjic if you’re relying on public transport. I stayed in a cheap place which had a balcony with great views of the town called Kamena Ćuprija which has decent prices.
Finding ARK D-0
At first, it seemed tricky finding this place as the location on Google Maps isn’t actually where it is. You need to find a tour agent office in the town and say you’re going to the “Tito Bunker” you pay them about £8 in BAM for your admission and will be given a piece of paper to show the tour guide on entry. You need to get there either by car or taxi, this is because it is located on an area of land owned by the Bosnian army.
The Bunker’s Fascinating Story
You are also required to be shown around the bunker by a guide, though this sounds like a downside, it was actually quite interesting. The guide was able to tell the full story of the place and was very knowledgable on the full history. Tito had ordered this place to be built during his rule of Yugoslavia and was built between 1953 and 1979.
Its purpose was to be a nuclear bunker for Tito and those high up in the Yugoslav government and was kept as a secret from the everyday people of Yugoslavia. The bunker itself has a number of bedrooms, a conference room and a water supply. Despite this, this place looks far from anything you see in Fallout.
When the Yugoslav wars broke out, the soldiers guarding it were ordered to destroy it, however they instead surrendered it to the Bosnian army and thanks to their actions, the bunker has survived to this day. Preserved as a place which you can now visit, the bunker is also a place in which art is displayed by Bosnian artists.
I have to say, I am very impressed with how well-preserved this place is and I struggle to imagine what escaping here during a nuclear war would be like. The plaque which states: “a monument to our futuristic past” really captures the modern purpose of the bunker.
