Part of the exhibition in the underground corridors beneath Fiľakovo Castle. (source: Marcela Ballová)
The former air raid shelters carved under ground beneath Fiľakovo Castle, southern Slovakia, are among the rarities in the country that attract visitors even from abroad. As many as 68,500 visitors over the past six years have seen them.
The castle itself dates back to at least 1242 when a written source states it survived the first Mongol invasion of Hungary. The castle burned to the ground in 1682 and was left to ruin.
There are two underground passages beneath Fiľakovo Castle. The longer one measures around 65 metres, while the shorter is about 25 metres long.
Just under 10 years ago, the entrances to the shelters were bricked up and the interiors were filled with rubbish.
At present, the underground corridors, which had not been originally part of the castle, house an exhibition documenting local events during the Second World War. The corridors were excavated during that time and residents of Fiľakovo would hide themselves there during air raids and bombings.
The exhibition in the longer corridor started in 2018 has been gradually improved ever since. For example, the entrance was surrounded by mud and grass. Later, a proper interior entrance was built along with paths.
"Visitors are introduced to 19 educational panels and objects that were used in Fiľakovo and its surroundings during the war. These include mines, rifle parts, disarmed ammunition and military equipment," says Viktória Tittonová, director of the Fiľakovo Castle Museum.
In addition to four display cases, there is also a command post with German and Russian uniforms and weapons, as well as facilities.
The second, shorter corridor is not yet open to tourists. However, the museum is planning another exhibition there, specifically on the topic of volcanology.
The castle rock of Fiľakovo Castle is fascinating for several reasons. In addition to the underground corridors, it is also remarkable for being part of an ancient volcano.
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