Катакомба Кантакузена

Kantakuzen’s Catacomb

Useful Information

Location:	7, Bunina st., Odessa 65000. (46.479991, 30.746385)
Open:	Summer Sat, Sun 11-15 after appointment. [2023]
Fee:	Adults UAH 100, Children UAH 50. [2023]
Classification:	Limestone Mine Room and Pillar Mining World War II Bunker Odessa Catacombs
Light:	Incandescent Electric Light System
Dimension:	L=1,700 km, T=14 °C.
Guided tours:	D=30 min, L=94 m.
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Kantakuzen’s Catacomb, 7, Bunina st., Odessa 65000, Tel: +380-63-635-15-00, Tel: +380-50-316-08-77.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1811-1814	catacomb created.
2012	project Тайны подземной Одессы (Secrets of Underground Odessa) founded.
2016	developed with electric light and trails, exhibition created.
2017	Kantakuzen’s Catacomb declared a monument of local significance.
2017	opened to the public.

Description

The Катакомба Кантакузена (Kantakuzen’s Catacomb, Quarry Cantacuzene) is the oldest limestone quarry of Odessa which was already mined in 1812. It was closed and later used as a refuge for adventurers, a storehouse for smuggled goods, and a shelter during wars. The quarry was named after Duke Nikolai Kantakuzen, descendant of ancient Byzantine family. He was Odessa landowner, had a high rank in the military and was a participant of the Ismail Assault. The site was named quite recently, formerly it was simply called Catacombs on Bunina Street.

The exhibition shows how the quarry was worked, displaying tools and machinery, the production of bricks, fireplaces, ceramic tiles, and majolica and the architecture of Odessa. There is an exhibition of the findings which were made when the site was cleaned. There is also a World War II air raid shelter.

The project Тайны подземной Одессы (Secrets of Underground Odessa) was founded in 2012 and has since then opened three underground sites in the catacombs. Odessa Catacombs are a labyrinth of passages, between two and four meters wide, which run below a huge portion of the city. They were created some 200 years ago, when the city was actually built.