5000 x 3750 px | 42,3 x 31,8 cm | 16,7 x 12,5 inches | 300dpi
Data acquisizione:
10 giugno 2023
Ubicazione:
Naours, Picardy, France
Altre informazioni:
The image is of the crossroads chapel erected by Ernest Danicourt during re-excavation of the medieval underground city museum of La Cite Souterraine de Naours in the French village of Naours. The walls around the chapel contain hundreds of names from mainly Australian servicemen from the First World War who were stationed in the village of Naours.The subterranean village was developed during the early middle ages where local people would take shelter during periods of conflict with up to 2000people taking shelter. During the 18th century due to a series of tunnel collapses the underground village was abandoned. Years later in1887 a new village priest arrive in Naours, Ernest Dancourt who a keen amateur geologist. Learning of the underground city he began to explore the site clearing various collapsed tunnels to gain access to the city including one below the floor of the church. Making use of local labour by 1912 he cleared much of the cities passageways and galleries including 130 rooms that are seen today. When the First World War came along in 1914 the city was first occupied by the French the moreso for lots of Australians whose evidence can be seen by the presence of graffiti they left behind. During the Second World War the German Military occupied the city at a communications centre. Later the city was de-cluttered of military paraphanalia to become a tourist attraction.
