A beautiful medieval cellar cave excavated by some groups in the area. 1800 tons of debris have been removed to give a breath of life to those underground. These caves communicate with each other on a good part of the hill. They share an old quarry, very small, very pretty and beautifully preserved.

Source: words collected during Heritage Days 2008

At the end of the quarry, a visitor was amused to redo the cave paintings of Lascaux on dozens and dozens of meters. Very very nice work!

Quarries of Paris - Showroom mineralogy of the Rue Saint Jacques.

The showroom mineralogical most famous of Paris is the Salle Saint-Jacques. It was constructed by Major Gambier in the heart of the underground quarry system of the GRS (Great South network), just false catacombs at Denfert-Rochereau, in fact ossuaries in old underground quarries.

The side benches were used to display the site's geological curiosities. At the center of the room, a staircase dummy materialized superposition of limestone beds of the place. Each step was a sample. Originally, the name of each geological layer of rock was inscribed on the front steps of each room but this was very bumpy because too many visitors have visited illegal.

Can be found in certain geological showroom more difficult to access such information.

source: website of Zedou(FR)

The Brussels courthouse was designed by architect Joseph Poelaert. Opened October 15, 1883. It was the time one of the biggest buildings in the world. Today, it is always the largest courthouse in the world. It dominates the city.

The sand quarry of Puiselet operated from 1924 to 1944. Here, the remains of a wagon that was used to transport the sand outside. The sand in the region of Fontainebleau (Nemours) is a very pure sand and very fine. As one of the highest quality sand (rich in silica at 95%), it is used for optical camera or glazing prestige (The Louvre pyramid for example).

source: Argonaute(FR) et lemoniteur.fr(FR)

Statues on the roof of the Gare du Nord. They were carved by Charles Gumery, Gabriel Jules Thomas and Jean Louis Nicolas Jaley.

Mushroom area in a gypsum quarry, exploited on stacks

The SEBILLOTTE quarry was operated from 1838 until 1940. Then, the quarry has been used for growing mushrooms until 1960. There are still beautiful mushroom beds in most rooms of operation.

This well was the only access to other parts of the quarry. Here, explorers sure to be the only ones in the quarry let the rope that we see. After they know about us. They came to retrieve the rope. Ridicule does not kill. In short, we had to dig the stone steps to the next time. In the end, it was more practical to have a permanent ladder!

Paper mills are based Landes November 8, 1927. At the time, the paper needs are important and France imports a lot of paper. The plant produces between 12 and 15 tons of paper. In 1934, the plant is in bankruptcy. Another company bought the paper industrial plant (pine cellulose). The mill changed its name to the company of stationers Roquefort.

At maximum activity, the factory employed 500 people in the manufacture of paper and kraft paper. In 1975, the company produces 125 tons of paper per day.

On June 28, 1978, the company ceases all activities and selling buildings. Other buildings are leased to small businesses. 20 years later, there were still huge abandoned buildings. Nobody made the decision to destroy them because it cost too much.

source: Website of Yves Roumazeilles(FR/EN)

Reservoirs of the Plaine Saint-Denis (here, the smallest tank), located under the France stadium are one of the largest type of construction. It can hold up to 165.000m ³ of water. The irregular shape of the pillars is due to the construction technique by molding (digging the soil, concrete injection and clearing the land around the pillar).