This summer, the children of franceinfo junior are playing explorers. Wednesday, July 20, they leave to discover the urbex with the historian Nicolas Offenstadt.
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To talk about urban exploration, the franceinfo junior program hands its microphone to the historian Nicholas Offenstadt. He is the author of the book Urbex, the phenomenon of urban exploration deciphered (ed. Albin Michel). The historian who practices the urbex himself answers the questions of Dinis, Adam and Yoni, our 11 year old interviewers.
Adam first wants to know what urbex is. “What is the urbex for?” added Yoni. The opportunity for the guest to recall that it can first be “a hobby, for pleasure” but this practice can also be used to discover the history of abandoned places: “Making urbex, showcasing these places, also means showcasing heritage and history.”
Dinis wonders again: “Is urbex a job?” Nicolas Offenstadt replies: “As such no”, responds the guest. However, he explains that some “organize tours for walking” by being paid, even if this nevertheless remains marginal. Adam also asks the guest why he is doing urban exploration. The historian explains to the young journalist: “I do it because I am a historian and I like abandoned places that tell history (…) In a way, it helps us to understand history and me as a professional historian, it helps me ‘help to make history’ before talking about his findings during his visits.
On this page, re-listen in full to this franceinfo junior program devoted to urbex.