Grottes de Naours, Underground complex and museum in Naours, France.
Description
The Grottes de Naours form a network of 28 tunnels and 300 rooms carved into limestone about 72 feet below ground level. The system connects various chambers, some of which served as living quarters while others functioned as storage areas.
History
The site began as a chalk quarry in the 15th century and was later transformed into a shelter system that housed around 3000 people in the 17th century. During World War I, the chambers served again as refuge for soldiers and civilians.
Culture
World War I soldiers left inscriptions on the walls, showing how they used these underground rooms as shelter. Their markings today tell the story of their time in this hidden place.
Practical
Visitors can join guided tours in multiple languages to safely explore the chambers and learn the history. The site also has a museum of traditional crafts and a war history exhibition that together fill about half a day.
Did you know?
The chimneys from underground ovens were connected to surface structures and concealed the daily activities of hidden inhabitants. These air shafts show how carefully life underground was organized.
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Across France, you'll find places dedicated to World War I that tell the story of what happened between 1914 and 1918. These are not just buildings or collections—they are where the war actually took place. You can visit monuments that stand on former battlefields, walk through military cemeteries...
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