11:30, 14:00, 17:30
1 hour
Entrance to the Historic Art Bunker
Admission to the Historic Art Bunker Museum
Cancellation & rebooking free of charge up to 24 hours before the booked start time
• Explore the underground bunker that protected priceless artworks during World War II bombings
• Discover how medieval treasures and Renaissance masterpieces were secretly stored 24 meters below ground
• Walk through original rock-cut tunnels and chambers carved into Nuremberg's historic castle hill
• Learn about the dramatic rescue operation that saved irreplaceable cultural heritage from destruction
• Experience authentic wartime atmosphere in perfectly preserved underground galleries and storage rooms
Deep beneath the medieval streets of Nuremberg lies one of World War II's most fascinating secrets. Tickets - Historic Art Bunker Nuremberg grant access to an extraordinary underground facility that played a crucial role in preserving European cultural heritage during the darkest days of the war. This remarkable bunker system, carved into the sandstone rock beneath the Imperial Castle, served as a top-secret storage facility for priceless artworks and historical treasures. When Allied bombing raids threatened to destroy centuries of artistic achievement, city officials and museum curators worked tirelessly to move invaluable collections into these protective chambers. Today, visitors with Tickets - Historic Art Bunker Nuremberg can walk through the same tunnels where masterpieces by Albrecht Dürer, Veit Stoss, and other renowned artists found refuge from the destruction above.
The bunker's construction represents an incredible feat of engineering and foresight. Beginning in 1940, workers expanded existing medieval beer cellars and storage vaults to create a sophisticated preservation facility. The constant temperature and humidity levels in these rock-cut chambers provided ideal conditions for storing delicate paintings, sculptures, and manuscripts. Historic Art Bunker Nuremberg tickets allow visitors to explore multiple levels of galleries where wooden crates once held the crown jewels of the Holy Roman Empire, medieval altar pieces, and Renaissance paintings. The bunker's ventilation systems, reinforced ceilings, and cleverly designed storage areas demonstrate the extraordinary lengths taken to protect these treasures. Original photographs and documentation displayed throughout the bunker show how museum staff carefully catalogued and positioned each artwork, creating detailed maps to ensure nothing would be lost or damaged during the chaotic war years.
Beyond its role as a storage facility, the Historic Art Bunker Nuremberg tells powerful stories of human dedication and cultural preservation. Museum directors risked their lives to save artworks from Nazi confiscation and Allied bombs, often working in complete secrecy. The bunker survived multiple direct hits during the devastating air raids that destroyed 90% of Nuremberg's old town in January 1945. Remarkably, not a single artwork stored in the bunker was lost or seriously damaged. Today, guided tours with Art Bunker Nuremberg tickets reveal fascinating details about specific rescue operations, including the dramatic last-minute evacuation of Nuremberg's most famous artwork, the Imperial Regalia. Visitors learn how these underground chambers continued to protect cultural treasures even after the war ended, serving as temporary storage while the city's destroyed museums were rebuilt. This unique historical site offers an unforgettable glimpse into how art and culture survived one of history's most destructive conflicts.