Saed News: Stay with us as we explore the incredible images and stories of two underground cities in the world, one in Paris and the other in Iran.
According to the tourism service of Saed News, deep within the dark earth and terrifying corridors, there are two mysterious attractions, each carrying a tale from distant times. One of these underground places was once a sanctuary for souls and memories, while the other is a cemetery that still whispers the murmurs of death from beneath the soil. These two places, deep within the earth, not only hold secrets that no one can fully uncover, but also, in a mysterious way, blend life and death within the heart of history. One of these underground cities, known as the Catacombs, lies beneath Paris, the beautiful city we see today, while the other is located in the Iranian city of Naushabad, known as the Ouyi City.
Paris Catacombs
This is the empire of the dead! If you visit the catacombs of Paris, you'll see this phrase above the entrance door, which excites its visitors.
As you may know, Paris is also called the City of Light. However, you may not have known that the world’s most romantic city, home to places like the Wall of Love, sits above a dark and eerie crypt. This crypt is an underground tunnel located right beneath the 12 million-strong city of Paris, stretching several hundred kilometers and adorned with the bones of 6 million former inhabitants. You might think using the word "adorned" for skulls is an exaggeration, but if we tell you that Napoleon used his cleverness to transform this bone crypt into one of France’s most famous tourist attractions, you might see it differently.
History of the Paris Catacombs
The story begins in the mid-18th century when Paris became one of the largest and most prosperous cities in the Western world. However, its growing population began to cause problems. The city’s cemeteries were full, and the merchants living near them constantly complained about the unpleasant odors that drove customers away. On the other hand, the people in those areas were concerned about disease outbreaks, and they could barely swallow a bite. As a result, Louis XV ordered in 1763 that bodies be buried outside the city, but the Church prevented this. Several years later, the wall of one of Paris’ cemeteries collapsed, and several bodies spilled into the streets! This event convinced everyone that a suitable alternative had to be found for the burial of the dead.
Since Paris was built atop a vast underground tunnel system, it was decided to transfer the bodies from the city’s other cemeteries to this location. This tunnel had been mined to extract stones for constructing the city of Paris. However, there was one problem: the city, built on empty spaces beneath it, was at risk of collapsing into the tunnels. In 1777, the king ordered his architect, Charles-Axel Guillaumot, to stabilize the system and save the city from destruction. The architect immediately began work, and by 1785, the tunnel was ready to become the city’s grand catacombs. It took almost two years to empty most of Paris’ cemeteries, but the transfer of bones continued until 1859. At the time, no one could have imagined that this place would later become one of France's most popular tourist destinations.
Naushabad Underground City
In the tales passed down by the survivors of Silk, Kashan, a legend is told when you reach Naushabad: beneath the skin of this city, history breathes until, in the early 1980s, the dream of an underground city in Naushabad became a reality.
The Naushabad Underground City, a secret hidden in the earth, became part of history with the last stroke of the archaeologists' picks. Located on the Silk Hills, which still showcase remnants of art from the Seljuk to Qajar periods, this amazing city, with its hand-dug architecture in Aran and Bidgol, is one of the world’s most astounding underground cities. Living beneath the glow of oil lamps feels like living in the city of shadows. The late Dehkhoda described Naushabad as derived from "Anosheh," meaning immortal and eternal, and as a city with a cheerful and eternal soul.
During various historical periods, this city served military and defensive purposes, designed to defend against invaders and foreign enemies. This city is one you must navigate through narrow and winding alleyways to reach a fascinating world where the silence of history shouts and where the once-loud sounds of the earth’s depths now echo only for the eyes of modern visitors.
