Plokstine Missile Base

Deep in the forest of Zemaitija National Park lies Plokstine, a Soviet base that once held nuclear ballistic missiles aimed at Western Europe, its silos sunk into the ground and hidden by pines. Decommissioned and now a Cold War museum, it is one of the few former missile silos in Europe that visitors can go down into.

History

Construction of the underground base began in September 1960 near the village of Plokščiai, one of the first of its kind in the Soviet Union, where the soil was easy to dig and few people lived; more than 10,000 soldiers worked on it in secret for over two years (Wikipedia, Plokštinė missile base).

What's there

• The silo - the deep underground missile shaft, seen from a viewing platform.
• The control rooms - the bunkers and equipment of the base.
• The Cold War exhibition - the story of the base and the era.
• The forest concealment - how the whole complex was hidden among the trees.

When to go

Its opening is seasonal, strongest in summer, so check hours before a special trip. It works as the highlight of a Zemaitija day.

Before you go

It is genuinely remote, a long drive into the north-west, and the museum runs on limited seasonal hours, so confirm before going. The underground parts are cold and confined. The museum inside is about the Cold War and the missiles once kept here.

Nearby

Lake Plateliai is a short drive within the same park; the Samogitian coast and Plunge lie beyond.

Key facts