Exploseum
Kujawsko-pomorskie
Exploseum is an extraordinary open-air museum located in Bydgoszcz, Poland, centered on the preserved complex of the World War II Nazi munitions factory DAG Fabrik Bromberg. The museum presents an extensive industrial architecture ensemble, including eight original buildings connected by nearly two kilometers of underground and above-ground tunnels. Visitors explore the history of explosives production, military technology, and the forced laborers-mostly Poles-who worked under harsh conditions, including acts of sabotage and resistance. The largest building hosts exhibitions covering the history of arms and explosives from the 15th century onward, linking the site to Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite and founder of the DAG company. Exploseum offers immersive multimedia experiences, including films, interactive displays, and sound effects, enriching the understanding of wartime industry and human stories. As a key anchor point on the European Route of Industrial Heritage, it combines technical history with poignant narratives of wartime suffering and resilience, making it a compelling destination for history and technology enthusiasts alike.
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Tip: Visitors are advised to reserve guided tours in advance via phone to fully experience the underground passages and exhibits. The best time to visit is during spring to autumn when weather conditions are favorable for walking the outdoor and tunnel routes. Multimedia aids enhance the self-guided visits, but guided tours provide deeper historical context. Discounts are often available for groups, seniors, and students. The museum is accessible year-round with opening hours listed on the official website.
Interesting facts
- •Exploseum is an anchor point on the European Route of Industrial Heritage (ERIH), one of only six such points in Poland.
- •The museum features a nearly 2-kilometer-long network of underground and overground tunnels connecting factory buildings.
- •It preserves the NGL-Betrieb zone, the nitroglycerin production area, almost unchanged from WWII.
- •Exploseum won the Sybilla 2011 award from the Polish Ministry of Culture for its technical exhibition.
- •The factory was one of the easternmost Nazi explosives plants and employed up to 40,000 workers, including forced laborers from many European countries.
History
Exploseum is housed in the former DAG Fabrik Bromberg, a massive explosives factory built by Nazi Germany during World War II starting in 1939 near Bydgoszcz.
It was one of the largest armaments factories of the Third Reich on occupied Polish territory, employing tens of thousands of forced laborers, including prisoners of war and concentration camp inmates.
The complex included over 1,000 buildings, extensive infrastructure, and a vast network of tunnels.
After the war, the site was closed to the public due to secret production activities.
From 2009 to 2011, the site was revitalized and transformed into the Exploseum museum, opening to the public in 2011 to preserve and present this significant industrial and wartime heritage.
Place Guide
NGL-Betrieb Zone1939-1944
The core area of the museum featuring the original nitroglycerin production buildings, preserved in their wartime state and connected by underground tunnels. This zone illustrates the industrial processes and the hazardous working conditions of the laborers.
Main Exhibition Hall2011 (exhibition opening)
Housed in the largest building of the complex, this exhibition presents the history of arms and explosives from the 15th century to modern times, including the history of Alfred Nobel and the DAG company.
Underground Tunnel NetworkBuilt 1939-1944
A comprehensive system of underground passages linking the various factory buildings, used during WWII for production and worker movement, now accessible to visitors as a unique feature of the museum.
Contact
Phone: 52 585 97 41
