Off-The-Beaten-Path in Paris: WWII Bunker Under Gare de l'Est

Discover a hidden relic of wartime Paris within this train station - an underground air raid shelter that protected civilians.

Why Visit: Rare chance to visit a preserved bunker from WWII and contemplate history.

For Those Who: Have an interest in war history and life in occupied Paris, appreciate sites off the tourist track.

Under the hustle of trains coming and going at Gare de l'Est lies a somber reminder of Paris' not-so-distant tumultuous past. An underground air raid bunker that civilians took refuge in still sits beneath the station, now open for solemn tours.

Walk the chilly sparse concrete corridors imagining terrified citizens crammed inside to escape aerial bombings during WWII Nazi occupation. Listen to accounts of long nights spent underground in cramped shared bunks as bombs fell above ground. Reflect on the horrors of war and the fragility of peace.

Accessible again after decades of closure, this stark historic site puts you in direct contact with the experience of Parisians just trying to survive amid the hardships and horrors of war less than a century ago—a place to contemplate the remarkable resilience of the human spirit.

What You Need to Know: The bunker can be visited by a guided tour coordinated via the Paris Metro website. Tours are limited to 14 people.