Beneath Paris, Sights to Rival Those Found Above

Will Hunt explores Paris beneath the surface during a 14-mile trek underground with a group of urban explorers, and finds subterranean sights to rival those found on the famous streets above.

1 minute read

November 11, 2012, 5:00 AM PST

By Jonathan Nettler @nettsj


"Our aim is to examine the city's connection to its underground in a way
no one has before: we will attempt to walk from the southern edge to the
northern, using only catacombs, telecom tunnels, sewers and other
hidden infrastructure. It is a 14-mile trek, every step illegal. The six
of us-five Americans and an Australian-are prepared for a two- or
three-day journey, with nights sleeping in the bowels of Paris. We have
packed food, sleeping bags, an arsenal of flashlights and headlamps, and
gas meters to alert us to any poisonous fumes in the sewers. It will be
urban troglodytism, a walkabout in the wilderness under the city."

"Just as visitors to the surface of Paris follow a sight-seeing
itinerary-Sacré Coeur, Notre Dame, the Eiffel Tower-so do visitors to
its underside. Wandering through the alcoves connected to La Plage, we
visit a room with a Norman castle and rock-hewn gargoyles, a room heaped
with silk flowers, a room lined with paintings of film characters. We
encounter four separate groups of cataphiles. On a weekend night, La
Plage is as crowded as most Parisian bars."

Thanks to Daniel Lippman

Friday, November 9, 2012 in Intelligent Life

View form second story inside Southdale Mall in Edina, Minnesota with escalators and model cars parked on downstairs floor.

The Mall Is Dead — Long Live the Mall

The American shopping mall may be closer to its original vision than ever.

March 21, 2024 - Governing

View of Austin, Texas skyline with river in foreground during morning golden hour.

The Paradox of American Housing

How the tension between housing as an asset and as an essential good keeps the supply inadequate and costs high.

March 26, 2024 - The Atlantic

Houston, Texas skyline.

Report: Las Vegas, Houston Top List of Least Affordable Cities

The report assesses the availability of affordable rental units for low-income households.

March 22, 2024 - Urban Edge

Aerial view of Anchorage, Alaska downtown with mountains in background at golden hour.

Anchorage Leaders Debate Zoning Reform Plan

Last year, the city produced the fewest new housing units in a decade.

March 28 - Anchorage Daily News

Young man in wheelchair crossing zebra crosswalk.

How to Protect Pedestrians With Disabilities

Public agencies don’t track traffic deaths and injuries involving disabled people, leaving a gap in data to guide safety interventions.

March 28 - Governing

Aerial view of mountain town of Steamboat Springs, Colorado in the winter with snow at dusk.

Colorado Town Fills Workforce Housing Need With ‘Dorm-Style’ Housing

Median rent in Steamboat Springs is $4,000 per month.

March 28 - CBS News

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.