Zivilschutz-Museum

About the museum

After the 1934 federal decree that created the legal basis for air-raid protection in Switzerland, the City of Zürich built, among other facilities, the Landenberg medical auxiliary station. The three-storey circular bunker was completed in 1941 beneath a green space in Wipkingen, with a diameter of about 25 metres and room for around 100 patients, as well as accommodation for air-raid protection troops. An operating theatre from that period can still be seen today.

Over the decades its use changed: in 1964 the lowest floor was converted into a civil protection command post, and later the outdated bunker served as a storage facility. Staff of the materials department collected decommissioned equipment and records there. From 1993, the facility and collection were shown to interested visitors, which allowed the idea of a museum to mature.

After a conversion in which cultural property protection specialists inventoried and labelled the exhibits, the Civil Protection Museum was first shown to the public in 2005 for the anniversary "50 Years of Civil Protection in the City of Zürich". In 2007 it became a member of the Association of Zürich Museums. It regards itself as the only civil protection museum in Switzerland and shows, over three floors, gas masks, blackout lamps, ration coupons, medical instruments, technical installations and a furnished command post from the Cold War era.

Highlights

• Original operating theatre of the 1941 medical auxiliary station
• Faithfully furnished Cold War command post
• Gas masks, blackout lamps, ration coupons and surgical instruments
• Try out fresh air in the bunker by muscle power
• Guided tours of the three-storey circular bunker

Permanent exhibition

• Rundbunker Landenberg und Geschichte des Zivilschutzes – Over three floors, original objects, technical installations, an operating theatre and a command post show air-raid and civil protection from the Second World War to the Cold War.

Founded

2005

Operated by

Schutz & Rettung Zürich (Stadt Zürich)

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Public tours on selected Saturdays are free of charge (registration required).

If a confirmed group tour is cancelled less than 10 working days in advance, 50% of the booked rate is charged; for no-shows, 100%.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: not available
• 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

Because of the structural conditions, the tours are not wheelchair accessible. Dogs are not permitted.

Kids & families

Only partly suitable for kidsRecommended for ages 12+

Tours are suitable for visitors aged 12 and over; families are welcome on the public tours.

Getting there & parking

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