Kaiser-Tunnel, Military tunnel in Lachalade and Boureuilles, France.
The Kaiser-Tunnel is a military underground passage extending 350 meters beneath the Argonne forest to connect Lachalade and Boureuilles. The complex includes different sections with dedicated areas for medical care, power generation, and water supply, all constructed to support sustained military occupation.
The 9th Lorraine Infantry Regiment began construction in late 1915 to create protected pathways for troop movement during the war. Additional infrastructure sections were completed in 1916, expanding the facility into a self-contained military base.
The tunnel reveals how soldiers lived and worked underground during World War I, with structures built to support daily military operations. Walking through it today, visitors can understand the scale of effort needed to maintain a hidden military base.
The two main entrances are located along Route de la Haute Chevauchée and offer straightforward access from the road. Parking areas are situated near the entrances, making arrival and orientation simple for most visitors.
The underground network functioned as a complete military settlement, not merely a tunnel, with dedicated areas for medical treatment, power generation, and water storage all built within months in 1916. This self-contained system reveals how troops could remain operational for extended periods away from the surface.
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