Exploring WW2 bunkers in Normandy, France.

[Leadeye]

I think that's the first time I've ever seen a concrete, hinged, door.

 

[Sylvain]

I think that's the first time I've ever seen a concrete, hinged, door.

It's quite common even in modern bunkers.

Doors are made with a steel frame filled with reinforced concrete.

 

[Leadeye]

That's a pretty substantial looking door. My French fails me beyond the no smoking sign, where does that go?

 

[Sylvain]

That's a pretty substantial looking door. My French fails me beyond the no smoking sign, where does that go?

It's a Swiss fallout shelter.Pretty much all appartment buildings and houses in Switzerland have that type of door and shelter in the basement.
It's mandatory by law for building built between 1971 and 2006 I think, so a lot of them have shelters.

They have the same kind of door, only smaller, for the escape tunnel leading to the outside.

You see them in public places as well, underground parking garages, schools, hospitals, malls etc.

They usually have double doors.
One armored steel door that stays closed (and usually locked) and what large door made of concrete to resist a nuclear blast that stays open.

 

[rob63]

Amazing stuff, as always!

 

[GregD]

Again this year, great photos!
Thanks Sylvain.

 

[Sylvain]

Again this year, great photos!
Thanks Sylvain.

Well I wanted to take more today but it didn't happen.
That bunker was open today.It's only open one day each year but I was told I would need to wait two and half hour in line to visit.

 

[actaeon277]

Well I wanted to take more today but it didn't happen.
That bunker was open today.It's only open one day each year but I was told I would need to wait two and half hour in line to visit.

Waiting time goes by faster if you have someone to talk to.
....
I'll be right over.

 

[Sylvain]

Waiting time goes by faster if you have someone to talk to.
....
I'll be right over.

Well two and a half hour was too much time.Plus they were going to close in two hours so they said the people waiting in line for hours might not even get in.

I had other stuff I wanted to see so I left.

If you were here I could have showed you plenty of other bunkers where you don't need to wait in line.

 

[Sylvain]

Yet another German bunker from WW2 recently discovered in the area (coast of Normandy).

The owner of a house on top of a cliff found this picture online, taken right after the war.

He recognized the neighboring house (still visible today) and concluded that a concrete structure must be burried under his lawn.

So he decided to do some digging ...

 

[Sylvain]

We have 836 known bunkers, just in and around one city ...

They had no idea this one was there, and sure enough they found it.

 

[Sylvain]

 

[Sylvain]

 

[Sylvain]

 

[Alamo]

So what happens if you find a buried bunker in your front yard? Do you get to keep it and make a helluva wine and tornado cellar? Does it become property of the government? Do little kids fall into it and their parents sue you for a attractive nuisance?

 

[Sylvain]

So what happens if you find a buried bunker in your front yard? Do you get to keep it and make a helluva wine and tornado cellar? Does it become property of the government? Do little kids fall into it and their parents sue you for a attractive nuisance?

I think you own it.
The owner wants to open it to the public.
If it's on private property people can't sue you if they tresspass and get hurt.

 

[Sigblitz]

Sylvain, I enjoyed reading this resurrected thread. What an adventure.

 

[Leadeye]

More great pictures from the Frenchman, thanks again!

 

[actaeon277]

 

[Sylvain]

I need to find more time to do more exploring, maybe this summer.