Tito’s Bunker

ARK D-0

Useful Information

Location:	Meeting point: Zoor Bosna travel agency, Stara čaršija bb, Konjic 88400. (43.6342922, 17.9948946)
Open:	All year daily 9, 12, 15, after appointment only. [2024]
Fee:	Zoor Bosna travel agency: Adults EUR 10.50, Children (12-18) EUR 5.50, Children (0-11) free, Students EUR 5.50. Travel Konjic: Adults EUR 11, Children (0-11) free. [2024]
Classification:	Secret Bunker
Light:	Incandescent
Dimension:	Ar=6,500 m², T=22 °C.
Guided tours:	D=90 min.
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	yes
Bibliography:
Address:	Tito’s Bunker, Šehidska br. 4, 88400 Konjic, Tel: +387-61-474-507. E-mail: Zoor Bosna travel agency, Stara čaršija bb, Konjic 88400, Tel: +387-36-72-7771. E-mail: Travel Konjic - Neretva Rafting - Restoran - Motel Vila Bijela, Polje Bijela bb, Konjic 88400, Tel: +387-61-651-045, Tel: +387-603-046-287. E-mail: E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1953	start of construction.
1979	completed and handed over to Tito.
1980	Tito dies and the bunker is mothballed.
1991	JNA general Milutin Kukanjac orders its demolition, which is sabotaged by two military personnel by cutting the wires.
2000	the existence of the bunker became known to the public.
MAY-2011	used as the location for the Biennial D-0 ARK.
JUN-2014	declared a National Heritage Monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina and placed on the list of protected Cultural and Historical Monuments.

Description

The atomic bunker of Josip Broz Tito, the former president of Yugoslavia, is in pretty good shape. It still has its full furniture and equipment, even the air conditioning is fully operational. The bunker system is officially called Object D-O or ARK (Atomic War Command), the full name is Vojni objekat Armijska Ratna Komanda ARK D-0 or Армијска Ратна Команда (Army War Command). This is quite complicated, so it is generally called Tito’s Bunker. The bunker has the shape of a horseshoe, an area of 6,400 m², connected by three huge chambers. The entrance is located 3 km south of Konjic in the valley of the River Neretva. The river is about 270 m asl, the surrounding hills are 800 m asl, as a result the bunker, which was built horizontally into the hill is covered by 280 m of massive rock. The labyrinth contains conference rooms, offices and strategic planning rooms. But also living space for the crew and for President Josip Broz Tito, his family and his closest associates. A total of 350 people could live in the bunker for six months, with constant air temperature of 21 to 23 °C and relative air humidity of 50 to 60 %. This is the third-largest military facility in Yugoslavia and the largest nuclear shelter.

The bunker was built from 1953 to 1979, construction took 26 years and cost USD 4.6 billion. Tito died in 1980, and the complex was mothballed after only one year of operation. But it was still maintained, in case of war. The Cold War was not yet over. After the Cold War ended in 1991, the breakup of Yugoslavia began, and the JNA general Milutin Kukanjac ordered its demolition. He wanted to deny its existence to the government of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This site and the Željava Air Base were prepped for destruction and rigged with explosives. But two military personnel sabotaged the plan by cutting the wires during the evacuation. As a result, the structure was later surrendered to the Bosnian government. It became a supply base for medical supplies and equipment during the Bosnian War.

The facility was under the authority of the Bosnian Ministry of Defense and was managed by the country’s military. It was preserved intact with all its symbols of Socialist Yugoslavia, guarded by a five-soldier detachment. But there was always the idea of opening it to the public.

The bunker was used as the location for the Biennial D-0 ARK in 2011. The event was organized by the Association for the Development of Visual Arts "Kult Zone" from Sarajevo. 44 artists from 18 countries and over 15,000 visitors came to the site during the first event. And as a result, the site is actually open to the public since 2011. There were five subsequent events, every two years, the last was in 2019. There are still 131 artworks on-site as permanent exhibits. Created by 107 artists from 32 countries, this exhibition is considered the best collection of contemporary art in South-East Europe. The value of the art is estimated at EUR 8 million, fortunately they are quite safe in the bunker.

While the site is open to the public, there seem to be no official open hours. There is an online form on the website where you can apply for a tour, which obviously includes individuals. However, we guess they will optimize the tours, so it is actually not always possible to get a tour exactly at the requested time. For groups of 15 or more visits are possible at any time from 9 to 15. But it’s not possible to just show up and buy tickets. There are (at least) three official websites, each was made by a different operator. Obviously several local tour operators offer tours to the bunker, we are not sure if the tours also differ, or if they are just resellers. Guests of Zoor Bosna meet at the Zoor Bosna office in Stara čaršija bb in Konjic. Others meet directly at the bunker.