Mysterious crypt with 1,000 maze-like entrances

Stretching over 2,500 km, the catacomb system in Odessa, Ukraine is the world's largest catacomb labyrinth, containing both a hospital and a theater.

Beneath the city of Odessa, Ukraine, lies what is believed to be the world’s largest catacomb labyrinth. Largely unmapped and spread throughout the city, the maze stretches for more than 2,500 kilometers. If laid out in a straight line, the tunnels would reach Paris, France, home to the world’s second-largest catacomb labyrinth. However, the Odessa catacombs are five times longer than the Parisian structure.

If the tunnel were straightened, the system in Odessa could lead to Paris, France. Photo:Goneva.

It is difficult to pinpoint when the first catacombs were dug in Odessa, but they were widespread from the late 18th century, when Catherine the Great ordered the construction of a port city on the coast. Large quarries were dug to extract limestone and build the city’s foundations. The tunnels went more than 30 meters underground. New shafts were dug as the limestone was removed from the old ones, creating a network of tunnels.

The digging continued throughout the 19th century and into the early 20th century, until the outbreak of the Russian Revolution in 1917. The mines fell into the hands of bandits, vagabonds, and smugglers, and at one point the dark tunnels were used for slave trading.

When the Nazis came to Odessa and massacred the population, the bunkers became a refuge for the Soviet forces, fighting back the Nazis. The shelters became comfortable living spaces for the partisans. Rooms were renovated and lit with candles for them to play chess. Rooms were separated for men and women. Kitchens were equipped with limestone stoves and the smoke was vented to the space above. There was even a hospital and a theater underground.

There are more than 1,000 entrances to the Odessa tunnel system, so visitors need a guide to visit, otherwise it is easy to get lost and not be able to get out. Photo:Goneva.

Today, some of the tunnels have been reconstructed, allowing visitors to explore and learn about the living conditions of former soldiers. At the Partisan Glory Museum near Nerybayskoye, there is a 1km-long tunnel displaying many old weapons, along with many wartime mannequins.

It is estimated that there are over 1,000 entrances to this maze of mysterious tunnels. Many explorers have discovered ancient objects such as coins, tools, fabrics, kitchenware, guns from World War II, and many old newspapers...

Entering the tunnels without a guide, visitors can easily get lost in the darkness and not be able to get out.

The kitchen with cooking utensils found inside the cellar. Photo: Panoramio.

According to VNE