15 Hidden Tunnels Around the World That Most People Never See

Secret passages are hidden in the most unexpected places. Of course, you may find some in history filled castles and palaces, but they exist in other places, too.

Check out some of the amazing hidden tunnels we have found lurking everywhere from beneath the seat of government, to below bustling city streets, and even deep inside the country hillside.

The Fishbones, Lyon, France

Over two dozen 100-foot-long finished tunnels run below the La Croix-Rousse neighborhood in Lyon, France. The tunnels were discovered in 1959, but date to before the Middle Ages. They were named for the shape of their structure, which, when mapped out, resembles a fish skeleton.

The tunnels aren’t open to the public and can only be accessed by manholes. Many people believe there is a secret entrance to them at the Saint Bernard Church. Conspiracy theories abound as the tunnels are built on land once owned by the last Grand Master of the Knights Templar.

Tunnels of Củ Chi, Củ Chi, Vietnam

Tunnels beneath the jungles of Củ Chi District connected Viet Cong troops to Ho Chi Minh City. The secret tunnels were used to move supplies and soldiers, as well as for hiding places and even housing. The tunnels protected the fighters from enemy fire.

Life in the tunnels was hard, and they were not comfortable places to live. Soldiers were forced below ground for days at a time. Supplies and food had to be rationed and the tunnels were far from safe or clean.

Today visitors can see what life was like for the fighters as the tunnels are now open to the public.

Initiation Well at Quinta da Regaleira, Sintra, Portugal

Quinta da Regaleira is a gorgeous palace in Sinatra, Portugal. It was built in 1910 by António Augusto de Carvalho Monteiro, an outspoken and eccentric Freemason. Inside the palace are matching 88 feet deep wells. Each well has a spiral staircase lining its walls and a tiled floor at the bottom.

Secret society rituals were rumored to have been done at the bottom of these wells.

An even stranger mystery are the caves that lie beyond the wells. The caves may look natural at first glance, but they are hand hewn.

Although these secret caves are relatively young, it’s no wonder why they have created such a buzz with their placement beneath a gothic palace and a connection to Freemasonry.

Passetto di Borgo, Rome, Italy

Although it isn’t much of a secret now, the Passetto di Borgo in Rome was originally built as a passage for the Pope to escape danger. The passage is hidden in what looks from the outside to be an average city wall of the time.

The Passetto di Borgo was built in 1277 and added onto in 1492. As far as anyone knows, the passage has only been used by the Pope twice, and that was back around 1500. The tunnel was renovated in 2000 and can now be visited by the public, making it a popular tourist attraction.