“No star” hotel

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We’re looking for the country with the world’s highest ratio of nuclear fallout shelter space to national population. In the 1960s, fears of a Soviet nuclear strike led to this country to build hundreds of thousands of bunkers.

The national anxiety was all the more curious, given the nation’s posture of neutrality. But as one of the slogans that promoted fallout shelters noted, “Neutrality is no guarantee against radioactivity.” So stock up on your water and dry goods and hunker down…

… and the country with the most nuclear fallout shelter space per citizen is Switzerland.

Shelter-building reached its peak there in the mid-1970s. Between 300,000 and 400,000 shelters were built each year. Even in the 21st century, about 50,000 shelters go up annually.

And now, tourists can experience what life is like inside a Swiss nuclear shelter. The Null Stern Hotel - that’s “No Star” in English — is giving guests a taste of Cold War hospitality.

(photo courtesy of Null Stern Hotel)

(photo courtesy of Null Stern Hotel)

If you’re tempted, here’s the address of the Null Stern Hotel:
Null Stern Hotel
Untereshörli 2079
9053 Teufen (AR)
Switzerland
Phone: 011-41-71-330-0163
www.nullsternhotel.com