Beneath the streets of Lyon, a maze of galleries fuels the wildest fantasies. The fish bones, those tunnels carved under the Croix-Rousse hill, are at the heart of a cultural debate: the elected officials of the 1st district want to list them 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.
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© David Patin
Because these galleries are not just tunnels. Sixteen corridors, each 32 meters long, connected to a central axis, whose origin still intrigues researchers. Far from the rumors of Templar treasures or secret passages leading to Fourvière, recent archaeological studies suggest that they might have been used to store precious metals or food supplies intended for the sanctuary of the Three Gauls. This hypothesis is strengthened by carbon-14 dating of Augustan graffiti, over 2,000 years old, that still adorn some walls.
Is this Lyon heritage finally being recognized?
This mystery, combined with the unique architecture of the site – reddish limestone blocks from the Mâcon region, quite rare during Roman times – makes the fish bones a unique case in the ancient world.Yet, their rediscovery is fairly recent. In the 1950s, a series of landslides unveiled these forgotten galleries, sparking explorations that, even seventy years later, are still trying to uncover all their secrets.
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If their classification is approved, these Lyon catacombs will receive enhanced protection, helping to stop wild intrusions. In the meantime, curious adventurers can already explore them... virtually, thanks to an online tour that will be available starting this spring. Guaranteed fascination!bsp;!
Source : Le Figaro
Cover photo: Mathieu CARLIER - Souterrain-Lyon