Quarries of Herblay are over 14km wide and some hundreds of meters deep, on hillsides along the Seine.

In 1776, the exploitation of new underground quarries in Paris was forbidden. People had to take the stone elsewhere. It is for this reason that the quarry was known as "Imperial quarry" or "Quarry of the city of Paris". They built many monuments in Paris with this stone because it was high quality (the famous Royal stone).

Among the monuments built, there was The Pantheon of Paris, Department of Marine Place de la Concorde, the Gare de l'Est, the mint as well as many statues at Versailles.

The network's quarries has been excessively exploited in Herblay. The ceiling is fragile and the walls separating the tunnels are very thin. To reinforce the quarry, they have added many pillars and reinforcement structures.

Later, like many underground quarries, they served to mushroom plantation in the 1980s. The workers have dug additional corridors between small quarries networks.

A few years later and they were gradually abandoned. The latest mushroom plantation closed in 1995.

Since 2003, the association "Herblay heritage" has undertaken to make public visits to the part of the "English entry" with the famous double-arched vault and pretty ponds.

Molitor the pool is a great pool complex abandoned. Designed by architect Lucien Pollet, the pool is famous for its art deco decor (stained glass, glass, balconies). In winter, the outdoor pool becomes the largest skating rink in Paris. Attributed to the pool Molitor paternity bikini, shortly after fashion shows in the pool enclosure.

The pool is a landmark of Paris. However, it closes August 31, 1989. It is listed in the inventory of historical monuments March 27, 1990. That's when the damage begins (tags, rave, pillage).

After 20 years of abandonment, the pool should reopen in 2012 after renovations.

source: Wikipedia

This room was called the Grand Rex because of his height and the sloping floor in tiers remembers a famous parisian movie theater. In winter, there are many bats in this quarry, thank you not to disturb them!

Quarries of Paris - The mineralogical showroom on Rue Saint Jacques.

The most famous staircase of Paris. One of the showroom mineralogical layers of Rue Saint Jacques. It has been degraded and restored many times. One thing is sure. It was there before us. It will be there after (even for the weak).