Z
Zero
Guest
The first stop on the two day Paris trip. The tunnels were built by the Germans in world war II to house and store their V2 rockets and associated trains that launched them, although it is unsure if they were ever used or not. The first striking feature is easily the size. They are huge, easily the biggest underground space i have explored.
After meeting Sgt Marshall in Gare du nord, we headed down to the metro and onwards towards our first stop. A little bit of walking and climbing later and we were stood outside the entrance. A quick look left and right and we were in.
We found ourselves in a small quarry which connects to the end of the main tunnel. All we had to do was find it, which took a surprising amount of time. As we searched the quarry for the entrance we ended up going in several loops and circles, returning to the quarry entrance almost 3 times!. Out of pure chance we looked around a corner which at first glance was a dead end, but no in the distance a large arch could be seen. Bingo!.
As we drew closer then ground sloped downwards and the real size of the tunnels became clear. Along the route of the main tunnel two other tunnels fed off from the side, but we saved them for later. Instead we headed for the main entrance to the tunnels. At the end two large blast doors around 10 meters in height covered the exit with a guards post overlooking them in the roof. It was said that this entrance was also rigged with dynamite so in the event of an allied attack the guard would detonate the explosives sealing the exit.
After taking a few pictures we headed back to the first junction. A short walk on and the tunnel split in two again. The roof was something to be seen. The original quarry roofs were now supported by rows upon rows of carved arches heading off in several directions.
Sgt told me that there was another quarry to the north that had to be closed due to a large cave in some time in the 70's. We decided to have a quick look. We discovered a large web of interlinked tunnels much like a reservoir with large pillars, with tunnels spanning off into the distance in all directions. We spent a while wandering around and photographing the remaining features of the quarry before finally heading back to the entrance, and off to our next adventure.
As usual more pics will be posted on my site eventually.
After meeting Sgt Marshall in Gare du nord, we headed down to the metro and onwards towards our first stop. A little bit of walking and climbing later and we were stood outside the entrance. A quick look left and right and we were in.
We found ourselves in a small quarry which connects to the end of the main tunnel. All we had to do was find it, which took a surprising amount of time. As we searched the quarry for the entrance we ended up going in several loops and circles, returning to the quarry entrance almost 3 times!. Out of pure chance we looked around a corner which at first glance was a dead end, but no in the distance a large arch could be seen. Bingo!.
As we drew closer then ground sloped downwards and the real size of the tunnels became clear. Along the route of the main tunnel two other tunnels fed off from the side, but we saved them for later. Instead we headed for the main entrance to the tunnels. At the end two large blast doors around 10 meters in height covered the exit with a guards post overlooking them in the roof. It was said that this entrance was also rigged with dynamite so in the event of an allied attack the guard would detonate the explosives sealing the exit.
After taking a few pictures we headed back to the first junction. A short walk on and the tunnel split in two again. The roof was something to be seen. The original quarry roofs were now supported by rows upon rows of carved arches heading off in several directions.
Sgt told me that there was another quarry to the north that had to be closed due to a large cave in some time in the 70's. We decided to have a quick look. We discovered a large web of interlinked tunnels much like a reservoir with large pillars, with tunnels spanning off into the distance in all directions. We spent a while wandering around and photographing the remaining features of the quarry before finally heading back to the entrance, and off to our next adventure.
As usual more pics will be posted on my site eventually.
They are HUGE arn't they! 
