Festung Magletsch

About the museum

The Magletsch artillery fortress was built inside the mountain near Gretschins and Oberschan from fall 1939 and formed the northeastern cornerstone of the Sargans fortress. The turret works was ready to fire as early as September 1940, the eastern and western bunker gun batteries followed in February and July 1941, and the accommodation section for 381 men was ready for occupancy in fall 1943. The entire works comprises about four kilometers of tunnels; its main armament consisted of three 10.5 cm armored turret guns and four 7.5 cm bunker guns. A hospital, a bakery, water reservoirs and its own diesel generators made the facility largely self-sufficient.

With the Army 95 reform, the combat section lost its purpose. The Artillerie-Fort-Verein Magletsch (AFOM) leased large parts of the facility from the federal government and turned them into a walkable fortress museum; it has been open to the public since July 1, 2000. The lower level is still used as troop quarters, while the upper level with about 2,000 meters of tunnels is maintained and operated by the association.

On a visit, the association shows guided groups the engine room, weapons room and combat positions as well as an armored turret with an ammunition lift, among other things; further tours cover the outdoor installations, the Brögstein auxiliary works and the bunkers on the Schollberg near Trübbach.

Highlights

• Main tunnel and 150 m inclined tunnel to the upper level
• Engine room with three Sulzer marine diesel engines
• Armored turret (10.5 cm) with ammunition lift and bunker gun position (7.5 cm)
• Outdoor tour to shelters and the Brögstein auxiliary works
• Special tour of the historic infrared searchlight position
• Additional tours of the Schollberg fortifications near Trübbach

Permanent exhibition

• Festungsmuseum Magletsch (obere Etage) – About 2,000 meters of tunnels on the upper level with an engine room, weapons room, telephone exchange, armored turret and bunker gun positions show how the artillery fortress functioned during World War II and the Cold War.

Founded

2000

Operated by

Artillerie-Fort-Verein Magletsch (AFOM)

Admission & discounts

Prices for the standard tour of about 2.5 hours: adults CHF 20, children up to 16, schools and military CHF 15. Special tours on request. A reception can be arranged from CHF 10 per person.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The tour leads through tunnels, a 150 m inclined tunnel and up stairs; an inclined elevator runs to the bunker gun position (alternatively 111 steps), and the armored turret is reached via 136 steps.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

Meeting point in front of the main gate of the Magletsch barracks; directions with a map link are on the “Anreise” page of the website.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit