Are there public nuclear shelters in Luxembourg?

Short answer. Luxembourg publishes no network, count or locator of public shelters ¹². For a radiological release, the official instruction is to take shelter in the nearest solid building, even if it is not your home, preferably on the ground floor or in the cellar, in rooms with few or no windows ¹². The shelter period should generally not exceed two days, or 48 hours ¹.

Information verified on 20 October 2026.

Does Luxembourg have public shelters?

No public shelter network, shelter count or shelter locator is published by the Luxembourg authorities ¹². Official guidance points people to ordinary solid buildings rather than designated shelters ¹².

In March 2024, members of parliament asked the Defence Minister whether Luxembourg has bomb shelters and how many (parliamentary question no. 478) ³. The Minister's reply of 22 March 2024 gives no figure; it only states that the question also falls within the Justice Minister's remit ⁴. No official answer giving a count was found.

What does Luxembourg tell people to do instead?

Take shelter in the closest house or building ¹². The official steps are ¹²:

1. Go into the nearest solid building, even if it is not your home.
2. Close doors, windows and shutters.
3. Switch off heating, ventilation and air conditioning.
4. Shut off the rainwater collection system, if there is one.
5. Stay preferably on the ground floor or in the cellar, in a room with few or no windows.
6. Follow the media and infocrise.lu for instructions.

Solid, enclosed buildings give protection up to 10 times higher than being outdoors ¹². Cars, buses and lorries do not give sufficient protection ¹². The general principle behind this is explained in What is a shelter's protection factor?.

How long does sheltering last?

The infocrise.lu guidance says: "The shelter period is limited and it is generally believed it should not exceed two days, or 48 hours" ¹. For the reasoning on when authorities choose sheltering or evacuation, see Shelter in place or evacuate after a nuclear emergency?.

Why is the guidance built around Cattenom?

Luxembourg has no nuclear installation of its own; its nuclear emergency planning is built around the French Cattenom plant near the border ². The government brochure "What to do in the event of a nuclear alert?" sets out the sheltering instructions ². See also What are the emergency zones around a nuclear plant?.

How will I know when to shelter?

Through the media, infocrise.lu and, for a nuclear alert, outdoor sirens ². Warnings also go out through LU-Alert (app, location-based SMS, Cell Broadcast). The nuclear alarm is a warbling tone lasting one minute, interrupted by two 12-second pauses ². Details are on Emergency alerts in Luxembourg.

Frequently asked questions

Where is my nearest public bunker in Luxembourg?

The authorities publish no list or locator of public shelters ¹². The official advice is to shelter in the nearest solid building.

How many shelters does Luxembourg have?

No official figure is published. A 2024 parliamentary question asked for one; the Defence Minister's reply gave none ³⁴.

Should I go to the cellar?

The official advice is the ground floor or the cellar, in a room with few or no windows ¹².

Can I shelter in my car?

No. Cars, buses and lorries do not give sufficient protection ¹².

Sources

1. infocrise.lu (Government of Luxembourg) — Taking shelter — https://infocrise.public.lu/en/accident-nucleaire/gestes-protection/mise-a-l-abri.html (accessed 2026-10-20)
2. Information and Press Service of the Luxembourg Government, with the Ministry of Home Affairs, Health Directorate, Rescue Services Agency and HCPN — What to do in the event of a nuclear alert? — https://infocrise.public.lu/dam-assets/publications/urgence-nucl%C3%A9aire/BROCHURE-CATTENOM-WHAT-TO-DO-IN-THE-EVENT-OF-A-NUCLEAR-ALERT.pdf (accessed 2026-10-20)
3. Chambre des Députés du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg — Question parlementaire n° 478 du 15 mars 2024 (infrastructure de protection) — https://wdocs-pub.chd.lu/docs/exped/0145/173/291731.pdf (accessed 2026-10-20)
4. Chambre des Députés du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg — Réponse de la Ministre de la Défense à la question parlementaire n° 478 (22 mars 2024) — https://wdocs-pub.chd.lu/docs/exped/0146/007/292071.pdf (accessed 2026-10-20)