The Underground City of Naours, located in the Picardy region of northern France, is an extraordinary underground complex that has been used since ancient times. The city consists of a network of tunnels, chambers, and passages, carved into the soft chalk rock. Naours was originally a site of refuge in the Roman era, but it grew in complexity over the centuries, particularly during the Middle Ages and World War I.
The city could shelter up to 3,000 people and their livestock during times of conflict. It includes living spaces, storage areas, wells, and even chapels. During World War I, soldiers wrote thousands of inscriptions on the walls of the tunnels, leaving behind a poignant record of their lives underground. Today, Naours is open to the public, offering visitors a unique historical experience and a glimpse into the ingenuity of past generations who built entire communities below the earth’s surface.
While many travelers would recommend a visit to one of the world’s greatest metropolises, a trip to a quaint town is the perfect antidote to those 21st-century blues.
