Top 8 Most Bizarre Ancient Underground Cities You Must-See

Have you ever heard of these ancient underground cities?

Today, we live in a world in which everybody’s rushing to build structures that would seemingly touch the farthest lining of the sky.

But let’s go back to a time of ancient underground cities where people constructed and used structures as shelters during times of war, from the dangers posed by nature, or as sacred places for a civilization’s religion and faith.

They have also been the subject of many ancient legends and myths, most indicating that these subterranean realms hide secrets that would change our current understanding of our history.

These stories tell of several mysterious underground cities filled with passages, secret chambers, shrines, and tombs. Many ancient underground cities haven’t even been rediscovered in modern times.

Still, there are a few whose existence and location are known today, but their true history and purpose are still largely unsolved.

So, without further ado, go back in time with Must See Places as we uncover 8  bizarre ancient underground cities you “Must-See” to believe!

Derinkuyu, Cappadocia, Turkey

Our first example is probably one of the most well-known ancient underground cities discovered! The lunar-like region of Turkey’s Cappadocia contains no less than 36 underground cities, but Derinkuyu is likely the deepest and most impressive of them all.

The expansive network of passages and tunnels goes back to the 8th century BC and is considered a shelter to protect people in times of war.

Due to this, the once-secret ancient underground city is a self-sufficient metropolis inhabiting ventilation shafts, kitchens, wells, schoolrooms, oil presses, a bathhouse, a winery, and living space for over 20,000 people on 18 stories.

The most unique feature of Derinkuyu is the cruciform church. But, the massive city remained hidden from the world until 1963.

Wieliczka Salt Mine, Poland

This table salt mine in southern Poland’s town of Wieliczka is popularly called the “Underground Salt Cathedral” because of its subterranean site and immense size, occupying over 179 miles of the town’s land.

This ancient underground city was first established in the 13th century and has continued to create table salt until commercial mining ended in 1996 and until operations halted entirely in 2007, which makes it one of the oldest salt mines that stayed operational until the 21st century.

Some experts believe that exploration and use of the salt deposit in this area date back to a much earlier time than that because researchers have found ancient cemeteries dating back to the Neolithic Period in the area.

Nowadays, the Wieliczka Salt Mine is regarded as a national historic monument in this country not only because of its 700-year legacy of making salt but also for the intricate rock salt carvings and complex tunnels inside the facility.

This includes different statues of mythical figures and several chapels which were either created by the miners or added later by contemporary artists.

Its tunnels and galleries spread more than 985 feet underground, and the mine is now a popular tourist site with approximately 1.2 million visitors yearly.

Naours, France

Located in the northern part of France, the ancient underground city of Naours is another complex labyrinth of more than 300 rooms. Originally used as a quarry, it soon became a hidden village underneath because of the obvious reasons of refuge and defense.

Dating back to the third century AD, it once had wells, chapels, and stables. But also enough room for approximately 3,000 people. The modest beginnings of this subterranean settlement date back to the 2nd century, during the reign of the Roman Empire.

During those days, the location was nothing more than a limestone quarry. Still, for the following centuries, the citizens in the area transformed it into a hiding place and an underground storage facility in times of war and invasions during the Middle Ages.

Petra, Jordan

Hidden among the red sandstone mountains in the southwestern region of Jordan, this ancient city was deemed “lost” to Western civilization for quite a few centuries until it was rediscovered by a Swiss explorer named Johann Ludwig Burckhardt in the early 19th century.

The site is called “Petra,” which is the Greek word for “rock,” due to the fact that it’s carved directly into sandstone rock. Settled in the 4th century BC by the Nabataean tribe, it was home to about 30,000 people.

Various tribes over the years came and went to settle the area, including the Nabateans, who made this ancient underground city a trading post and the capital of their empire between 400 BC and 106 AD.

The decrease of international trade in the region led to its eventual desertion in the 7th century AD. Characterized by the stunning carved-out desert cliffs, it represented the Nabataean wealth and power.

The domain was annexed into Rome some centuries before its collapse, and thus, an evident influence of Roman architecture can be seen throughout Petra today.

Orvieto, Italy

The Italian hill town Orvieto is settled on top of Volcanic rocks, housing this mysterious ancient underground city. Nowadays, it’s famous for its white wines. But the city belonged to the ancient Etruscans, who excavated down to carve cisterns and wells initially.

How did it come to be? Gradually, it developed into an underground maze of tunnels, counting up to 1,200 galleries and tunnels.

While it was mainly used to hold wines, it also showed remains of the Etruscans and medieval oil presses when discovered. During World War II, the underground tunnels of this village were also used as bomb shelters.

Edinburgh Vaults, Scotland

Constructed within the 19 arches of South Bridge in Edinburgh sometime in the late 18th century, Edinburgh Vaults are a series of chambers created due to downward expansion.

These artificial “underground” vaults were originally blooming with traders such as taverns, cobblers, smelters, and so on. But, soon, the wear and tear began due to the lack of proper sanitation systems and drainage.

In 1985, these forgotten, dark, damp places were discovered due to excavation. This ancient underground city resulted from the superstitions of the city’s people, and to date, it’s regarded as the most haunted place in the UK.

Berlin Bunkers, Germany

Incredible secrets lie under the now peaceful city of Berlin. Once the epicenter of World War II, Berlin saw brutal war crimes and can’t forget the Nazi concentration camps.

The Berlin Bunkers were originally intended to shelter the citizens from the air raids during the war. A few of these bunkers also acted as defensive shelters during the nuclear Cold War conflict.

After that, the bunkers remained empty for the remainder of the twentieth century until 1997, when they were rediscovered. They’re an insight into the atrocities committed in World War II and, therefore, now serve as museums operated by Berliner Unterwelten eV.

Pilsen Historical Underground, Czech Republic

The city of Pilsen has a lot more to offer than its renowned Pilsen Beer. Pilsen Historical Underground is a 12.5-mile web of cellars, passageways, and wells built sometime in the 14th Century.

The ancient underground city was known to be a storage space for beer barrels and food in the prehistoric era. But, some believe in the presence of treasure is concealed within the walls of these cellars.

Like many other ancient underground cities, this one also has been converted into a museum, and guided tours are organized to explore many of its secrets, including the well-known water tower and the ice cellar.

What did you think of all these ancient underground cities? Have you or would you consider visiting them? Be sure to share your thoughts with us in the comments. And if you do decide to visit any of them, be sure to snap some shots to share with our readers!

And if you like this article, we also recommend checking out: 12 US Museums for the Inquiring Mind