The Cold War Tunnel in Gjirokastër is one of the city’s most intriguing destinations, offering a rare journey into Albania’s communist history. Built in secret in the late 1960s beneath the castle hills, this massive bunker was designed to serve as a shelter for local leaders and defense structures in the event of a nuclear attack or foreign invasion.

The tunnel comprises 59 rooms connected by narrow corridors, constructed with thick concrete to withstand explosions. Inside, there are command offices, operational rooms, communication areas, storage spaces, and long-term living quarters. The atmosphere is cold and heavy, giving visitors a sense of the tension of that era, when isolation and fear of external enemies were part of daily life.

Today, the tunnel is open to the public as a tourist attraction and historical museum, where visitors can closely explore the regime’s secret infrastructure and gain a deeper understanding of the political and military dimensions of the Cold War in Albania. It stands as a vivid reminder of the paranoia and extreme preparations of a period that left deep marks on the nation’s history.