The Mystery of Europe's Underground Corridors: Who Built These Tunnels and What Was Their Purpose? Their Endpoints Are Surprising

Author:

Natalia Stolichnaya

It may seem that Europe has been thoroughly explored, but this is not the case; there are still surprises waiting for humanity to discover here. One of the puzzles researchers are trying to solve is what these "dots on the map" connecting the underground artificial tunnel networks in France and Brittany really are, and how these tunnels were constructed. A notable feature is that they usually have only one entrance and one disguised exit – clearly, everything was carefully planned.

Mysterious Locks and Doors

These passages are called "erdstalls" and are found throughout Europe. There are more than 2000 known tunnels, with the most in Bavaria and Austria (about 1200), as well as in northern Spain, France, Brittany, the Czech Republic, and Hungary. Interestingly, their structures are highly similar: low tunnels, elliptical cross-sections, smooth turns, sparse small rooms, as if built according to a single specification. Some of these tunnels were carved out of soil or rock, and it is speculated that they are over 5000 years old; another theory suggests they may have been built 12,000 years ago, but there is insufficient evidence to support this claim.

German archaeologist Heinrich Kusch mentions in his book *The Secrets of the Underground Doors of Ancient Times* that evidence of large underground tunnels has been discovered beneath Neolithic settlements in many parts of modern Europe, with construction ceasing by the Middle Ages. The "youngest" tunnels are those leading from the Czech Republic to Austria. However, researchers have many doubts about Kusch's work: critics point out numerous contradictions and insufficient evidence.

The problem is that there are almost no artifacts inside the tunnels that could help archaeologists determine their purpose. This has puzzled scholars and sparked their sarcasm: If someone had entered here, why are there no fragments of clothing? Why did no one lose any tools? "Why is it all so clean?" Therefore, they hypothesize that these passages were originally intended to be used for building residences but were later abandoned – perhaps because the environment was too damp and barren.

However, in some areas, traces of wooden doors and even lockholes have been found, which is equally baffling: Who would want to lock the door from the inside?

Tunnels Extending to Turkey

One theory suggests that these mysterious tunnels extend from Scotland to Turkey, interconnected. Supporters of this theory claim that the tunnels form an "ancient underground highway," allowing people to move freely when surface conditions were harsh.

Researchers in Austria believe that these secret hideouts were once used to escape bandits. However, given the underground environment, it would be difficult for people to stay long-term, making this explanation less convincing. Researcher Josef Weihenberger once conducted an experiment: confining people in the tunnels for 48 hours. Three volunteers later reported that it was "difficult to breathe" inside the tunnels, and to "survive," they had to crawl into adjacent rooms – they believed this was the design of the tunnels. Thus, they concluded that the erdstall system (the term comes from medieval German "Die Erde" meaning "earth" and "Stelle" meaning "place" or "Stollen" meaning "mine") is a severe test of survival.

In addition, some tunnel entrances are extremely narrow, requiring sideways movement when traversing (in some areas, the length of the tunnel network can reach 350 meters). Those who venture into the narrowest sections describe it as eerily silent inside, lights dim due to oxygen deficiency, turns pulling you deeper, always wanting to turn back, even triggering claustrophobia. Some areas have dripping water from the ceiling and damp walls, giving a feeling like a refrigeration room – clearly not a comfortable place.

Other tunnels are zigzagging with uphill and downhill slopes. Erdstalls usually have only one entrance and one concealed exit, while their endpoints often come as a surprise: they might end under the floorboards of an old house, below the hearth, or lead to the altar of a church, a forest, or even dead ends.

Not Suitable for People with Heart Conditions

Renaissance experts proposed a guess: these might be religious buildings, possibly used for symbolic rebirth or purification rituals. It is worth noting that in regions such as Scotland and France, erdstalls are distributed along the ancient routes of missionaries from the 6th century.

In some areas, vertical shafts leading to the ground were found, which were likely used to transport excavated earth during the construction of stables and then completely filled in, becoming dry stone walls.

"Mystery theories" suggest that the tunnels are "gates to the underworld"; another hypothesis claims they were once used as prisons for criminals and may also have had "healing" significance – patients would "let go" of their ailments here.

Tunnels are often discovered by accident. For example, a cow in Bavaria fell waist-deep into the ground while grazing, revealing a tunnel. The owner, curious, entered and squeezed through the entrance, finding himself in an underground maze. This tunnel was only 25 meters long, but its "precise architectural structure" shocked the farmer.

Some Europeans have even turned this into a business. For instance, the owner of a hotel in northern Austria offers guests an "exploration project," but warns in advance that people with heart conditions should not participate. The tour begins in the restaurant, descending to the cellar, then crawling into a hole hidden behind a wooden door. Although this underground space floods with water in cold seasons, making it unsuitable as a storage room or shelter, it still leaves a deep impression on visitors.

Based on the existing data, it can be concluded that Europe's underground passages are not a unified whole, although their structures are similar, they may serve different purposes. Even as shelters, they were only chosen in special circumstances. Many researchers believe that there are far more undiscovered tunnels than those already found, and the secrets behind them remain an unsolved mystery.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7515791964760031759/

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