The Albion Plateau in the Vaucluse region of France was once home to eighteen underground silos built during the Cold War to store strategic ballistic missiles. These silos, each about 24 meters deep, were constructed starting in 1971 and were designed to withstand nuclear attacks. The site was selected for its sparse population, favorable limestone geology that made deep excavation easier, and its strategic position relative to other nuclear facilities across Europe. The military complex was one of the largest construction projects in Europe at the time, with the construction of the firing command post alone requiring 40,000 cubic meters of concrete. The site was officially decommissioned on February 22, 1996, when President Jacques Chirac announced its closure due to shifts in France’s strategic priorities and the high cost of maintaining and modernizing the facility. Dismantling operations began in September 1996, and by September 1997, the last missile had been removed from its silo. The last nuclear warhead was taken away on February 26, 1998, marking the end of the site's military use. France is unique among nuclear-armed countries in having fully removed its deployed ground-to-ground nuclear weapons. The closure had a major impact on the local economy, which had depended heavily on the military presence. However, parts of the former military base were repurposed. A regiment of the French Foreign Legion and a listening station operated by the DGSE, France's external intelligence agency, moved into the area. In the years following the closure, a group of researchers negotiated with the military to use the site for scientific research. In 1997, the Underground Low Noise Laboratory (LSBB) was established, taking advantage of the site's natural shielding to conduct experiments in an environment with very low electromagnetic interference. The laboratory is supported by a consortium of research institutions, including CEA (Atomic Energy Commission), CNRS (National Center for Scientific Research), and several universities. Today, most of the former silos are sealed and inaccessible to the public. Some have been repurposed, such as one in Lagarde d'Apt, which now hosts the public astronomical observatory SIRENE. Others have been converted into solar power farms. The former nuclear firing command post, located nearly 500 meters underground, remains accessible with proper authorization. It offers visitors a chance to explore its history as a key military installation and its current role in supporting scientific research.