Service wells with steps or ladders

The plates to access them are heavy and dangerous to handle, it is easy to lose your fingers. They allow the ventilation of the galleries as well as access to the IGC (general inspection of quarries) teams. The shafts are often masonry or dug in the mass. Recent techniques allow the walls to be molded (iron or concrete).

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The stairs leading to the underground quarries

Stairs generally provided access to cellars, shelters or underground quarries belonging to private individuals.

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Connection between the different levels

Wells or staircases inside underground networks allow easy communication between different levels.

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Extraction wells

To transport the blocks, sometimes weighing up to two tons, to the surface of the shaft, the quarrymen used winches. Unfortunately, these winches are not very common today, because regulations required the shafts to be closed and the winches to be dismantled at the end of the operation. In addition, those made of wood have not stood the test of time. The first winches consisted of a large-diameter wheel, operated by men who walked on the outside of the wheel, using rungs. In the 19th century, horses took over (lifting capacity of 5 to 10 tons). Since the 20th century, mechanization has made it possible to transport any type of load.

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Water well

They were generally used to collect water in order to irrigate underground mushroom crops.

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Air well

Ventilation shafts in underground quarries are essential to ensure ventilation and air quality in these confined spaces. By extracting stale air and allowing fresh air to circulate from the surface, these shafts help reduce the risk of accumulation of toxic or flammable gases, as well as dust that can be harmful to workers’ health.

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Ground floor entrance

A ground-level entrance, more commonly called a “cavage entrance”, provides access to the underground quarries. They are located on the hillside.