It's no secret that Bucharest is a city full of history, but few people know the stories that have been written beneath its cobblestones. Secret tunnels, catacombs, underground passageways and forgotten cellars - all these are hidden beneath our feet, in the asphalt we tread on in our daily hurry.

Because centuries ago in the Bucharest of yesteryear looting was the order of the day and wars were a constant threat, the wealthiest boyars of that time built their houses with long tunnels so that they could escape in an emergency and save their lives.

"In the 16th and 18th centuries, the great boyars built their houses with tunnels several hundred meters long, usually leading to the plain. In case of war, if they were plundered, they managed to escape this way," explains historian Dan Falcan.

These underground structures tell fascinating stories, from medieval refuges to tunnels built by political regimes for military or secret purposes that have yet to be revealed.  

The secret tunnels of Bucharest

The Domnești Tunnels: The escapes of boyars and rulers

It is said that under the Curtea Veche, the former residence of the rulers of the Romanian countryside, there was a network of secret tunnels leading to various locations outside the city. The tunnels were lined entirely with brick, 1.5 meters wide, dug to a depth of over ten meters and about 250 meters long. These passages were used by rulers and boyars to escape danger or Ottoman attacks. Legends say that some of these tunnels connected to monasteries on the outskirts of the city, such as Radu Voda Monastery.

Secret tunnels under communism

A more recent period, no less enigmatic, is the communist era. Nicolae Ceausescu's regime built a complex network of underground tunnels designed to serve as bunkers and safe havens for the nomenklatura of the time. Between 1970 and 1975, Calea Victoriei was blocked off for work on a tunnel linking the Central Committee, the Royal Palace and the Palace Hall. 

Canalizations: the underground world less enigmatic

Not all tunnels are historical relics hiding enigmatic stories. Another well known underground system is Bucharest's sewers, where, over the years, veritable communities of homeless people have formed. Interestingly, some of these sewer networks date back to the interwar period and have been used as makeshift shelters over the years.

Forgotten catacombs and urban myths

Among the capital's urban legends are those of mysterious catacombs, forgotten underground passages and tunnels hiding treasures or ancient artifacts. Some historians say that under old churches and monasteries there are galleries leading to ancient tombs, and urban explorers are always on the lookout for such hidden places.

Can these tunnels be visited? 

One of the questions on enthusiasts' lips is whether or not these tunnels can be visited. Unfortunately, many of these passages are today blocked, collapsed or inaccessible to the public, but the reason is well-founded: visitor safety. However, there are guided tours that include medieval cellars, catacombs or communist-era bunkers. Some sites, such as the cellars of Manuc's Inn or Mogoșoaia Palace, can still be visited today.

Photo: Historia.ro