History of catacombs

The catacombs are a web of underground tunnels and labyrinths under the Odessa. Most of the catacombs were quarries in the past, here was mined stone for building. In addition to quarries, the system of Odessa catacombs includes "mines" – cellars, bunkers, storm sewers and other underground cavities, which created by residents. Catacombs can tell a lot about not only the history of Odessa, but also about the geological, zoological and historical past of this region.

The first small quarries appeared in the 15th century with the formation of the current city of the Slavic settlement of Kacibey. But better part of the underground quarries arose in the first half of the XIX century, during the rapid construction of Odessa, as a source of inexpensive building material - shell rock. The extraction of the stone was carried out with the help of saws, and was so intense that already in the second half of the XIX century an extensive web of underground cavities began to cause inconvenience to the city.

During the Second World War, these underground labyrinths hid partisans. In this period, the headquarters of General Molodtsov was located in the catacombs. More detailed story about the catacombs and partisans our guide will tell for you.

Until now, the Odessa catacombs are full of mysteries. Specialists, who study the Odessa catacombs throughout their lives, and through tens of years of diligent search, discover new underground areas. Due to its scale, darkness, silence and lack of communication with the outside world, the Odessa catacombs will always remain an endless fount of unusual and surprising.