The King’s Cellars – Sèvres
Introduction The Sèvres undergrounds have a rich and important past where winemakers, the king's privileged wine merchants, and beer brewers succeeded one another over the years, from the 16th to…
This category gathers historical underground sites, including industrial mines, military counter-mine galleries, and subterranean mills. It covers the extraction of coal, iron, salt, and slate across Europe, from the medieval origins of Wieliczka to 19th-century sites like the Guido mine and the Blue Mine in Anjou. Readers discover how subterranean engineering evolved over centuries to exploit natural resources, establish post-war mills in Malta, and construct defensive military networks beneath fortifications.
The ochre quarries of the Luberon
Through a series of images and panoramas, retrace the history of a hidden heritage rich in color! Discovering the Underground Quarries of the Massif des Ocres In this article, we…
Underground Chapels
Introduction These chapels were used for daily prayers, but also on a more exceptional basis to celebrate major religious holidays such as Christmas and Easter, or to say mass and…
The creutes
Overview of the creutes In the Picardy region, particularly around the Chemin des Dames near Soissons, the term "Creute" or "Bove" refers to the numerous cavities carved out over centuries…
Creute of Poilus and Civilians
The term “Poilus” refers to the French soldiers who fought on the various fronts of the First World War, particularly those who lived in the trenches. The name "poilu" refers…
Traces of WW1 Soldiers
French, German and American soldiers, who were stationed in underground quarries for long periods while waiting to move up to the front, left numerous sculptures, drawings and graffiti on the…
Blanzy Mining Museum
Coal mining is very ancient and dates back to the Middle Ages, but experienced significant development at the end of the 18th century and especially during the Industrial Revolution in…
Officers’ Creute
These creutes were of superior quality compared to those of the frontline fighters. They were mostly composed of a command post as well as quarters for rest. Command post Most…
The mine above ground
Headframes Mine headframes are emblematic structures of the mining industry, used to house and support elevators or cages that descend into underground mines to transport miners, equipment, and materials. They…