Every city with an impressive history has a couple of skeletons in its closet that are carefully hidden from tourists. If you want to see Paris or Berlin from an unexpected side, you should look not at the well-known sights, but a little lower, underground. It turns out that incredible tunnel systems may be hidden there, fraught with ancient secrets. We will talk about them in this article.
Mines and catacombs in Paris
Not everyone knows that under the streets of the French capital stretch hundreds of meters of one of the oldest and creepiest networks of tunnels in the world. The underground cemetery can be considered a particularly nightmarish part of the catacombs. By the way, while in Paris, you can go there on an excursion. The bones of 6 million people, with which the walls are literally covered, will help you instantly forget about the delights of the Eiffel Tower.
Drug trafficking corridors in Tijuana
Beneath the border between Mexico and the United States lie mines that were once profitable but no longer operate. We’re not talking about coal mining—these underground tunnels were used by cartels to smuggle drugs into San Diego. Most of them were closed after being discovered by the police, but some still serve the interests of the mafia.
Underground city in Berlin
The remains of the bunker system from the Third Reich have become the source of a number of conspiracy theories and a route for public tours. The old labyrinth, connecting Nazi bunkers, bomb shelters and even a former aircraft factory, is worth leaving the smooth streets of Berlin and descending into the dark catacombs.
Tokyo flood control sewer
Although the Japanese authorities are engaged in attracting tourists on excursions into the underground tunnels, not everyone knows about the existence of the Parthenon at a depth of 50 meters near Tokyo. It’s hard to imagine that in the most unexpected place, huge columns were erected and halls were equipped that can be navigated by car. The purpose of the monumental building is to protect the capital of Japan from flooding. As we know, Tokyo is at high risk from tropical cyclones, and the complex system of giant craters and reservoirs should bear the brunt of a cataclysm.
Pedestrian tunnel in Toronto
The underground world of Canada’s largest city may seem too prosaic: no huge columns, no bones, no mafia to be found here (most likely). But near Toronto you will find the largest shopping complex in the world, The Path, through which more than 100,000 people pass daily. Almost every attraction in the city is “connected” to an amazing system. So you can tour Toronto without ever having to go above ground.
Source: Thrillist Travel
