Unusual location of the Month: The Paris Sewers

Unusual location of the Month: The Paris Sewers -

Some of the best attractions in Paris are there, the subway - the Catacombs, the Paris crypt and the Paris Sewers , The Paris Sewers offer people something different, and a little pissed to see while in Paris.

Paris is a big city with a very long history. From its beginnings as a Roman outpost through modern times, the city has had to deal with waste. How would they handle waste of millions of people? In ancient times, there was no problem. The population was not large enough yet to create a real pollution, so everything went into the Seine. Sure, the streets were dirty and smelled, but it was not like the East River in New York.

However, as the city grew, more waste went into the Seine and of the late Middle Ages, the river was just too dirty. It had to be done. From 1370 the city began to build sewers and drains. At the time, people just threw their trash on the street, where it only remained somehow. This was a common practice throughout Europe until the 19th century. In fact, part of the reason women small umbrellas began in the late 18th / 19th century bears, was to protect themselves from falling debris ....

In Paris, the system became bigger and bigger, but it was still not effective. Waste still went into the Seine, and the stench worse. In the 19th century the city Eugene Belgrand, who designed all new employed. He climbed into drains, increased the size of the sewage system and roads, a sewage treatment plant started and began to build aqueducts, so that the city in the drinking water was pumped from the environment. A large part of the sewer network still bears his legacy. The city now has more than 2,100 km from pipelines that if stretched out, would go from Paris to Istanbul. It is the largest in the world and is engaged in more than 1.2 million cubic meters of wastewater per day.

For these interested to see the Paris Sewer Tour you can explore part of the sewer system and learn how the city copes with all its waste. The exhibition is quite good, with most of the characters in French, German and English. Plus, you get to actually go through some of the active channels. You can hear the waste in its final destination flowing under you. It makes for quite the stinking time, although I have to say it after a while, do get used to the smell.

The tour is put in a quick and easy way that can be done in 30 minutes or less. In the beginning, there are some pictures and information about the history of sewerage and some of the old machines they used to clean it. It seems a large display with visual images and to be everything. How good it is, I do not know that part was in French. The other big exhibition on the history of the sewer is in several languages. The Paris sewers are to see another way Paris and give you an interesting approach, as this modern city deals with an age old problem.

Everyone comes to Paris the Louvre to see the Eiffel Tower, and Notre Dame. Come and see something else (and smelly) and learn more about how this city. It was one of the most unusual things I've done. In addition there are no lines.

, you can find near the Alma Marceau Metro Station, the Egouts tour. It's right across the bridge on the left. It is open every day except Thursday and Friday 11:00 to 5:00 and costs to get 4.50 euros.

Make sure to bring some hand sanitizer when you're done!

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