Villa Winter Fuerteventura: a mysterious Nazi stronghold in the wilderness?

Dive into a bizarre mystery around a lone villa in the wilderness of Fuerteventura: Villa Winter. Or Casa Winter, as the building is known locally. Something seems to be going on here.

The wilderness around Cofete

After a long road trip over sand and rock tracks along deep ravines you come to Cofete. Apart from the remarkable beach of Cofete there is not much there. A few shacks at most, and one place to eat.

The wilderness is what stands out. In that light the presence of that one eating place is a wonder. Civilisation seems far away, after all. Apparently it pays, with the adventurers who come this way.

Villa Winter Fuerteventura: a great riddle between beach and ridge

So it looks rather odd that a villa suddenly appears in these harsh surroundings. Alone, some distance from the beach, with the ridge right behind it. Who builds something like that in the middle of nowhere?

• The German engineer Gustav Winter. During the Second World War he was involved in the project.
• At the same time he travelled through Europe. After the war Gustav wanted to ‘retreat’ to this ‘farm’ on Fuerteventura.
• But in fact he never really lived there; he settled in Morro Jable.

According to the wildest stories and theories, Villa Winter was more than a disguised holiday home. The villa is said to contain a bunker and a secret system of tunnels, among other things. What is suggested?

From an underground submarine base to a refuge for Nazis

The Fumero research team speaks of underwater caves stretching to the ocean. These supposedly served as an underground submarine base. Nazi troops could come in that way.

The base, bunker and cellar served as storage for various Nazi goods, according to the citizen investigative journalism network. And Villa Winter was a genuine refuge for Nazis.

German dignitaries sought relief from the strains of war. The Fumero research collective points to musical dancing evenings with alcohol and prostitutes.

Villa Winter: open to tourists or closed off?

Curious tourists regularly take in Villa Winter along the way, not always successfully. Although a resident is said to give tours now and then, we found a forbidden zone.

The sign Cerrado, prohibido el paso is clear enough. Loosely translated: ‘closed, no entry’. So we got no further than a ‘viewing’ from outside, at a distance. Still a mystery.

A mystery worked up to the proportions of plastic surgery for Nazis so they could become unrecognisable.

Whatever the truth, the villa remains a remarkable sight in the wilderness of Fuerteventura. Not worth a trip of its own, but do look if you are already nearby.