Tito’s bunker/D-0 ARK

An underground city

The facility known as ARK D-0/Tito’s bunker with codename ”Istanbul”, is located in the Herzegovinian city of Konjic and it attracts more and more tourists each year from all over the world. Hidden in Zlatar Hill and built in high secrecy for 26 years, today it represents a museum used for tourist purposes.

An ordinary house at a glance, hid the best-kept secret of the former SFRY for many years. Tours of the facility for tourist purposes weren’t possible until 2011 when the Ministry of Defense of Bosnia and Herzegovina with the presence of NATO declared the facility as militarily perspectiveless. Everything was motivated by the idea and implementation of the contemporary art project called The Biennale of Contemporary Art, D-0 ARK Underground, which the Council of Europe in 2011 declared a „Cultural Event of the Year“.

The artworks correspond to the space – they are thematically connected with the Cold War and the ambiance of the facility which gives this facility a perception of the contemporary art gallery. In 2014, the Commission to Preserve National Monuments of Bosnia and Herzegovina declared ARK D-0/Tito’s bunker a National Monument.

The internal part of the facility, also called “the protected part” takes up to 6500 m2 and is made in a horseshoe shape. There are 12 interconnected functional blocks, each with its own purpose, creating the impression of a miniature underground town.

Originally, the facility was built with the intention to protect and accommodate 350 people from the military and political elite of Yugoslavia, who would stay in the facility for period of 6 months in case of an atomic attack.

Despite being isolated, the facility is perfectly safe, well-appointed, and offers a unique experience for every visitor. Don’t miss the chance to visit Konjic’s tourist attractions with knowledgeable guides and embark on a nostalgic 90-minute tour.