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The Sewers of Paris Trivia Quiz

Paris's first sewer system was built in the 1200s. It consisted of open troughs that ran down the center of the cobblestone streets. This was a major cause of the spread of the Black Death in 1348-1349.

A multiple-choice quiz by denmarks. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
denmarks

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
234,642

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
442

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. What is a sewer called in French? Hint

Escarole

�gout

Escargot

Eflouge

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Question 2 of 10

2. Tours of the Paris sewers have been offered to tourists since when? Hint

1858

1950

1925

1963

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Question 3 of 10

3. How large are the largest tunnels that make up the Paris sewer system? Hint

Just high enough to walk through.

You must crawl through them.

You can walk through stooped over.

They are large enough for a subway (tube/underground) train to pass through.

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Question 4 of 10

4. Boat rides have been offered to tourists through the Paris sewers.

True

False

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Question 5 of 10

5. The length of the sewer system in Paris was about how many miles long in 2000? Hint

Just over 500 miles

Just under 100 miles

About 250 miles

Over 1000 miles

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Question 6 of 10

6. Who redesigned the Paris sewer system in 1850 along with engineer Baron Haussmann to keep up with the swollen population ? Hint

Eug�ne Belgrand

Napoleon

Victor Hugo

Andr� LeBlanc

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Question 7 of 10

7. Boat trips were offered since the opening of the Paris sewers to tourists. Can you still take a boat trip through them?

Yes

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Question 8 of 10

8. The sewers of Paris play major roles in which of the following stories? Hint

All of these

Phantom of the Opera

Les Mis�rables

Foucault's Pendulum

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Question 9 of 10

9. Emmanuel Bruneseau found a number of interesting items while mapping the Paris Sewers. What did he find? Hint

Neither of these

Skeleton of a orangutan

Lost jewels

Both of these

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Question 10 of 10

10. Which of the following items items do not occupy space in the Paris sewers? Hint

Pneumatic tubes for the post office

Compressed air pipes

All of them are in the sewer

Gas pipes

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What is a sewer called in French?

Answer: �gout

The sewers are called �gouts in French. Escarole is chicory and escargot is snails. Eflouge does not mean anything in French.

2. Tours of the Paris sewers have been offered to tourists since when?

Answer: 1858

Starting in 1858, tours were given in sections of the sewer. They became very popular during the time of the author Victor Hugo due to descriptions in his stories.

3. How large are the largest tunnels that make up the Paris sewer system?

Answer: They are large enough for a subway (tube/underground) train to pass through.

The tunnels that make up the Paris sewer system are very large, many the size of a subway (tube/underground) tunnel. The central channel can hold a boat while on both sides are paved walkways.

4. Boat rides have been offered to tourists through the Paris sewers.

Answer: True

From 1892 to 1920, visitors rode through the sewers in locomotive drawn wagons and in 1920 the wagons were replaced by boats.

5. The length of the sewer system in Paris was about how many miles long in 2000?

Answer: Over 1000 miles

As the 21st century began the sewers extended for over 1000 miles.

6. Who redesigned the Paris sewer system in 1850 along with engineer Baron Haussmann to keep up with the swollen population ?

Answer: Eug�ne Belgrand

Engineer Eug�ne Belgrand redesigned the system along with the help of Baron Haussmann. Baron Haussmann had the title "Prefect for the Seine" and it was his responsiblity for the engineering. He created separate underground passages for drinking water and sewage using iron piping and digging techniques made possible by the Industrial Revolution.

7. Boat trips were offered since the opening of the Paris sewers to tourists. Can you still take a boat trip through them?

Answer: No

The carts, trains, and boats have been gone since 1970. There is now a Mus�e des �gouts de Paris (Paris Sewers Museum). This museum is located in the sewers beneath the Quai d'Orsay on the Left Bank.

8. The sewers of Paris play major roles in which of the following stories?

Answer: All of these

Victor Hugo spent about 50 pages of "Les Mis�rables" describing the sewers based on information he received from a good friend, Emmanuel Bruneseau, who mapped the system.

9. Emmanuel Bruneseau found a number of interesting items while mapping the Paris Sewers. What did he find?

Answer: Both of these

Emmanuel Bruneseau mapped the entire sewer system which had grown in all directions. After the initial design the system grew without a detailed map being kept. He found some strange items including the above.

10. Which of the following items items do not occupy space in the Paris sewers?

Answer: All of them are in the sewer

The tunnels carry drain water from the streets, sanitary sewers in separate pipes, water mains, telecommunications cables, gas pipes, and pneumatic tubes between post offices.

Source: Author denmarks

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor gtho4 before going online.
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