6 incredible underground cities from across the world

If you go through the pages of history, from prehistoric times to the early 19th century, you will find civilisations—both ancient and modern—have consistently been in the pressure to find out innovative ways to defend themselves. And it’s indeed noteworthy to mention that their ways have baffled people for ages. The very art of building of massive defensive city walls, or secret passages and tunnels, they have covered it all. Then the concept of underground also also explored extensively then and today also, although most of the place largely remain unexplored till now. Here, we take you to some places that have long been forgotten, and some date back to World War II.

Cappadocia is one of the most beautiful and favoured tourist destinations in Turkey. The beautiful landscape with the hot air balloons flying above is a surreal sight for sure. It’s said that there is a region in Turkey that looks like the moon, and serves as home to at least 36 underground cities, with Derinkuyu being the deepest and most remarkable. As per the records, this vast extensive network of passageways and tunnels apparently dates back to the 8th century BC and was likely used during the conflict times as a refuge. It’s a self-sufficient underground city, with all amenities in place, whereas one of the most notable features is a cruciform church. This underground part actually remained largely hidden from the outside world, until it was discovered in 1963.

A popular UNESCO Heritage site now, Petra in Jordan also has a fascinating story to tell. Nestled among the red sandstone mountains in southwestern Jordan, the underground city of Petra is an ancient architectural wonder that remained hidden until the 1800s. Founded in the 4th century B.C. by the Nabataean tribe, it once housed around 30,000 people. This place is renowned for its beautifully carved desert cliffs, reflecting the power and wealth of the Nabataeans. However, after thriving as a major trade centre, the kingdom began to decline around the 7th century AD.

During the Cold War, the British government planned to take refuge in ‘Burlington’ an underground bunker, which supposedly stretched roughly 60 miles beneath the village of Corsham. This hidden city was built in the 1950s, and has office spaces, medical facilities, BBC studio, cafeterias, a telephone exchange, along with all the other necessary things. As per the records, this city was built with the intention of keeping the Prime Minister and around 4,000 personnel safe during emergencies. Though never used, it remained operational until 1991 and was declassified in 2004.

The Italian town of Orvieto, perched on volcanic rock, conceals a labyrinthine underground city originally developed by the Etruscans. This place was primarily used as a storage site for wines and oil presses, although it was used as a bomb shelter during World War II. The city’s subterranean network, which includes up to 1,200 tunnels and galleries, was initially created for cisterns and wells, which were later expanded.

Dixia Cheng, located beneath Beijing, covers an area of 85 sq km and was built to serve as a shelter for people in the 1960s in case of a nuclear fallout. Reports suggest that it was never used for its original purpose, although it has the capacity to accommodate up to one million people for around four months. This hideout had everything from hospitals, schools, restaurants, granaries, entertainment venues, and even an ice skating rink, which is now accessible to the public as a tourist attraction.

In northern France, this underground city of Naours is actually a labyrinth of at least 300 man-made rooms. Originally a quarry, it was transformed into a secret refuge due to its defensive advantages. Dating back to the third century AD, it has wells, chapels, stables, and can accommodate around 3,000 people.