In these troubled times, lots of house hunters are seeking security, but just how far are you willing to go to keep your loved ones and most valuable possessions safe? If your answer is ‘all the way’, then this abandoned nuclear fallout shelter left over from the Cold War may be for you.

Buried in a forested area in Xanten, in the North Rhine-Westphalia region of Germany, this industrial relic is currently on the market for €1.6 million (£1.4m) through a somewhat unconventional listing source—eBay.

Though eBay may seem an unlikely forum for such a listing, this is not the first bunker to be sold on the site. In October of 2022, a Lincolnshire native listed a Cold War bunker he had purchased ‘on a whim’ on eBay 20 years previously.

Constructed as a Royal Observer Corps monitoring post, the bunker was one of more than 1,500 constructed around the UK during the 1950s, at the height of Cold War tensions and international anxiety around nuclear attacks.

Sadly, though we may not yet have reached Cold War threat levels, global concern over nuclear war has increased exponentially since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February of 2022, with a corelated increase in bunker-buying enthusiasm.

Though previously considered dated or even dystopian, these subterranean shelters have captured the public interest like never before this past year in light of the current global nuclear tensions. As Putin continues to threaten the West, thousands of panicked Brits have picked up the phone to purchase defunct fallout shelters, while in the US, survival bunker companies claim they have never seen demand so high.

For those with higher budgets, companies like Oppidum are even offering to construct luxury bunkers underneath extant estates, for a seamless transition from pre to post-doomsday living. However, this particular bunker is far more military-grade than it is glamorous. The 9,150 square foot space is encased in 10-foot-thick concrete walls, and is built to military standards, having once served as a base for various operations by the Bundeswehr, the German Armed Forces.

The eBay classified listing advertises the property as ‘a highly secure haven for you, which will withstand the challenges of protecting a family under the most extreme conditions’, and likewise suggests that its ‘best possible use’ would be in the event of a war in Germany.

However, while bunker-buying may seem like a proactive step, these sites do have other more practical daily uses that can help keep you out of the apocalypse mindset. Indeed, the listing also suggests slightly more whimsically that the site would make a good paintball facility, or a space for ‘commercial operations.’ If you were planning to build nearby, the bunker could also serve as a hard-core craft area, storage room, or even the ultimate man-cave.

Ready for any emergency, the bunker comes equipped with a generator, a crane, an electrical system, a control panel, water and oil tanks, its own sanitation system, hefty steel doors, shelters, and a warehouse. Though many of the systems would need a complete overhaul in order to be operational, the robust facilities are perfectly engineered to help you survive a disaster with plenty of fuel, electricity, stored goods, and a fresh water supply.

Fortunately for any buyers with DIY ambitions, the property does come with a wealth of documents to help you figure out just where you stand with all that technical infrastructure. According to the listing, the documents include various circuit diagrams, cable harnesses, site plans, cross-sections, and other extensive documentation for the bunker.

The listing states that the bunker is in generally good condition, but would need to be cleared of various items left by previous tenants, as well as some overall maintenance. More intensive internal renovations would be required to make the space suitable for regular daily use or habitation. 

The bunker is situated on close to two acres of land, which is supposedly buildable if the right permits are acquired, according to the listing. So, if you’re looking to build your dream home with fallout shelter attached, you may be in luck.

For those looking to make the bunker and its environs a more permanent home, the site location may sweeten the deal. The town of Xanten is in fact a state-approved recreational and climatic health resort, with numerous cultural and leisure activities.

Every year, Xanten attracts around 800,000 tourists who travel from far and wide to see the famous St. Viktor Cathedral, the Roman Old Town, and the archaeological park. For young families, the town also boasts a wide array of schools, as well as a robust shopping centre, and a leisure centre.

With excellent transportation links to the A57 motorway towards Moers or Goch/Nimwegen, the A3 motorway towards Oberhausen–Arnhem, and the A42 motorway towards Kamp-Lintfort–Dortmund, the site is also very well connected for easy access to surrounding cities in any direction.

In short, this war-time relic offers buyers a limitless array of opportunities. Whether you are looking for an emergency safe haven, a commercial investment, or a quirky bonus space for a new build, the property offers the chance to secure a piece of history, while planning ahead for whatever the future might bring.

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