Soviet Army Missile base in Zeltiņi Military town
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The former Soviet Army Missile Base is located in Medņukalni, Zeltiņi parish, Alūksne municipality. This nuclear missile base was a particularly secret military facility of the Soviet Army, and it operated in Zeltiņi, Alūksne municipality, from 1961 to 1989. The facility housed P-12 (8K63) and P12Y (8K63Y) surface-to-surface medium-range ballistic missiles with 4 launch pads. Their travel distance was 2,200 kilometres. During this period the army used barbed-wire to secure an area of about 300 ha less than a kilometre from the Sinole-Silakrogs P34 national regional highway. The living and top-secret areas have remained a legacy even today. Concrete roads lead to places hidden from the eye at that time: hangars, launch pads and bomb shelters. Various structures for the maintenance and servicing of nuclear missiles are located on an area of dozens of hectares. Facilities providing the area with the autonomous supply of power, water and heat were destroyed with the withdrawal of the army. After the army left, some of the equipment was handed over to the local municipality. Visitors currently have access to 20 ha of the former territory of the missile base, the south-western part of which is a tourist attraction. Tourists visiting the base can choose between the core exhibit about the history of the missile base, which is located in the Zeltiņi Museum, and a tourist route in the base area. Friends in a group of up to 12 people can enjoy a game of laser tag here.
Used sources and references:
Development concept of the tourism object “Soviet Army Missile Base in Zeltiņi”, 2016.
https://visitaluksne.lv/visit/lasertag-spele/
Educational programs
Excursion to the nuclear missile base in Zeltinių
When you visit this top-secret military facility, during a two-hour guided adventure, you will find out where the nuclear warheads were assembled and how they were transported, what components are needed for a complete missile launch, during the creative activities "Tuthead", "Radist's letter", "Save what you can" and a tour at the nuclear missile base. for assembly and whether missiles have ever been launched from this base. You will stay in the Communications hangar and decipher a secret message, visit several bomb shelters and find out where the missile launch button was.
