10 most heavily guarded places in the world

may 6, 2025

Image: Shutterstock

From hoards of gold deep in the Alps to the legendary Area 51, here are some of the most heavily guarded places in the world!

While the exact location of the Swiss vaults holding gold is a closely guarded secret of the Swiss National Bank (SNB), it is widely believed to be located in the Alps.

Image: wikipedia,org/Jonathunder

10. Swiss Bank Vault

It’s a closed-to-the-public military complex located under 600 metres of granite in Colorado, USA. Its doors have only been closed once during 9/11.

Image: wikipedia.org/public domain

9. Cheyenne Mountain Complex

The Mormon Church built vaults under 600 feet of solid mountain stone in Utah, containing a vast collection of family history microfilms.

Image: mormonwiki.com/Phicken

8. Granite Mountain Vaults

Also called the doomsday vault, it's a secure global seed bank nestled inside a mountain in Norway. Its location protects it against rising sea levels and potential human threats.

Image: wikipedia.org/Subiet

7. Svalbard Global Seed Vault 

It's a heavily militarised region which forms the border between North Korea, China and Russia. It has been used as a crossing point for North Korean defectors.

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6. Tumen River 

The Vatican Apostolic Archives contain documents spanning roughly 12 centuries. Access is heavily restricted and the archives are under the sole authority of the Pope.

Image: Pexels

5. Vatican Secret Archives

It’s a heavily fortified four-kilometre-wide buffer zone, running 250 km.  It was established in 1953 and serves as the border between North and South Korea.

Image: wikipedia.org/Johannes Barre

4. Korean Demilitarised Zone

It's the official residence of the President of the United States, protected mainly by the Secret Service and the Park Police.

Image: Shutterstock

3. White House

It holds the US’s fortified bullion depositories located in Kentucky. This former US military base is heavily guarded by the Mint Police, over 30,000 soldiers and advanced security systems. 

Image: wikipedia.org/Cliff

2. Fort Knox

It’s a high-security US military research facility, well-known for conducting military tests and cover-ups. The CIA acknowleged its existence just once in 2013.

Image: wikipedia.org/ ESA

1. Area 51

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