The famous limestone caves of Paris were born through the creativity of inhabitants in Loire Valley. Centuries ago, limestone varieties had to be quarried to give space for castles and churches to be built throughout the region. Over time, the abandoned caves were discovered once again by local residents and transformed into mushroom farms.

The caves were also sometimes used as a dwelling, or for storing wine. Although these purposes did serve the residents well, the mushroom farm was the asset that quickly grew to popularity due to its eccentricity.

Before you go eating another one of the famous button mushrooms of Paris, you might be interested to know that mushrooms are cultivated with horse manure. These mushrooms thrive best in of course, the humidity of the limestone caves, but also when placed in a compost combining hay and horse manure.

Inside the limestone caves, over 4000 varieties of mushrooms are grown on metal tables. These metal tables were developed to make delivering the mushrooms more efficient. It’s interesting to note that of these 4000 mushrooms, only roughly 50 of them are edible.

Aside from the well-known button mushrooms, which are simple and plain white, some of the mushrooms in the cave can be fascinatingly beautiful. The colors of some varieties, such as the oyster mushroom, will strike out at you and make you feel as if you are in a bouquet shop rather than a limestone cave.

The oyster mushroom is characterized by its non-traditional mushroom colors, veering off from the hues of brown and white and boasting a vivid array of pink and yellow. The fact that they grow in clumps truly adds to the feeling of being in a flower shop.

The best part about these surprisingly beautiful mushrooms is that they are edible. The next time you go shopping for mushrooms, try seeking out the oyster mushroom.

As you reach the end of your tour in the mushroom caves, the locals of Paris have been thoughtful enough to set up a small café for tourists who have finished exploring the caves. This café serves mushroom soup or raw mushrooms and sauce, so you can get an idea of how the edible mushrooms in the cave tastes like.

If you are someone who enjoys unorthodox adventures, paying these caves a visit will be worth your time. You might also be a couple looking for an unconventional way to spend your honeymoon. If this is the case, plan your own French honeymoon package today and venture into these fascinating mushroom caves in person.