Beneath the Lyon pavements lies a maze of galleries that feeds the wildest fantasies. The fish bones, these tunnels carved beneath the Croix-Rousse hill, are at the heart of a heritage debate: the elected officials of the 1st arrondissement want to have them listed as historical monuments. This request will be reviewed at the next municipal council meeting and could mark a turning point in the preservation of this little-known site, which is regularly visited – and sometimes degraded – by urban exploration enthusiasts.
© David Patin
Because these galleries are not just tunnels. Sixteen corridors, each 32 meters long, connected to a central axis, the origins of which still puzzle researchers. Far from rumors of templar treasures or secret passages leading to Fourvière, recent archaeological studies suggest that they may have been used to store precious metals or food supplies meant for the sanctuary of the Three Gauls. This theory is supported by radiocarbon dating of Augustan graffiti, over 2,000 years old, which still adorn certain walls.
Is Lyon's heritage finally being recognized?
This mystery, combined with the unique architecture of the site — the reddish limestone blocks from the Mâconnais, which were uncommon in Roman times — makes the fish spines a unique case in the ancient world.Yet, their rediscovery is quite recent. In the 1950s, a series of landslides brought these forgotten galleries to light, leading to explorations that, seventy years later, still struggle to uncover all their secrets.
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If their listing is approved, these Lyon catacombs will benefit from enhanced protection, thus preventing wild intrusions. In the meantime, the curious can already explore them… virtually, thanks to an online tour available since spring. Guaranteed fascination!bsp;!
Source : Le Figaro