Felslabor Grimsel

Grimsel Test Site GTS

Useful Information

Location:	Visitor Centre Grimselwelt at the Grimsel Hospiz. From Luzern A2, A8/R4 Martisberg, Grimselstraße/R11/R6 to Grimsel Pass, turn right to Grimsel Hospitz. (46.571413, 8.331217)
Open:	Tours only for specialist groups and after appointment. Mid-JUN to mid-OCT Tue-Fri 9-16. [2025]
Fee:	Per Person CHF 25. [2025]
Classification:	Subterranean Laboratories
Light:	Incandescent
Dimension:	L=1,500 m, VR=450 m, A=1,730 m asl, T=13 °C, 3.5 m diameter tunnel system.
Guided tours:	D=120 min.
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address:	Felslabor Grimsel, Nagra (Nationale Genossenschaft für die Lagerung radioaktiver Abfälle), Hardstr. 73, 5430 Wettingen, Tel: +41-56-4371111. Andrea Wettstein – De Marco, Tel + 41-56-437-1310. E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1972	NAGRA founded.
1979	geological mapping of the area.
1980	horizontal exploration boreholes.
FEB-1982	decisions to construct the GTS made.
JUN-1982	contact with Kraftwerke Oberhasli AG (KWO).
NOV-1982	federal operation licence.
SEP-1983	arrival of full-face tunnel boring machine.
NOV-1983	first experiment on excavation effects.
20-JUN-1984	inauguration of GTS.
1983-1993	Phases I-III.
1994-1996	Phase IV.
1997-2004	Phase V.
2003-2013	Phase VI.

Description

The Felslabor Grimsel (Grimsel Test Site, GTS) is an underground laboratory established by the Swiss National Cooperative for the Disposal of Radioactive Waste. It is located underground inside the famous Grimsel granite. It was established for scientific research concerning the safe management and disposal of radioactive waste. But this site is for research on this topic, and is not intended for the disposal of radioactive waste.

In Switzerland, the producers of this waste are responsible for its safe disposal. So the NAGRA is a joint venture of the Swiss Federal Government and half a dozen corporations which are involved in nuclear sciences. This institution established and manages several underground nuclear laboratories. This one is open to the public.

The Grimsel Test Site is rather close to the hydroelectric power plant. The reason is easy: the power plant needed numerous underground tunnels, which were used to minimize costs of this laboratory. There are three underground sites which are connected by the tunnels: pumped storage plant Grimsel 2, Kristallkluft Gerstenegg, and the Grimsel Test Site. They were operated separately at some point, but currently there is only a combo tour of the power plant and the crystal cave available. Tours to the Grimsel Test Site are only offered for specialist groups and after appointment.