The city of Dover, located in the Kent County, is one of the popular travel destinations where its biggest tourist attraction is Dover Castle, which dates back to the 11th century.
But, no one would have imagined that under its soil there are a series of tunnels that managed to evacuate French and English soldiers during World War II before the advance of German troops.
The first tunnels under Dover Castle were built in the Middle Ages and that during the Napoleonic Wars, this tunnel system was greatly expanded to strengthen the Castle in preparation for a French invasion.
In this regard, seven tunnels were dug as barracks for soldiers and officers that were capable of holding up to 2.000 soldiers. Until in May 1940, when France fell to the German advance, the tunnels became the nerve center of the 'Operation Dynamo”For the evacuation of French and English troops from the beaches of Dunkirk. In all, 338.000 men returned safely.
During the Cold War the tunnels were expanded to form a regional government center, in the event of nuclear war. With the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, the need for this service diminished and in the 1990s it was decommissioned and the tunnel areas open to the public for tours.
The tour of the underground tunnels lasts about an hour and photos are not allowed inside the two tunnels that are open to tourists. The others are either unexcavated or considered too dangerous.
There is a gift shop with informational materials and souvenirs from WWII, model airplanes, and other memorabilia. Then you can walk to Dover Castle proper, which is about a 10 - 15 minute uphill walk.