The only telephone booth of its kind in France.

The stand is located in Murbach in the Haut-Rhin province. Until recently, this small town with about 160 inhabitants was mainly known for its wonderful monument – the Benedictine monastery from the 18th century.

Another local curiosity has also become unexpectedly popular in recent weeks: a functioning payphone, AFP reported on Sunday. The stand is located next to a city parking lot. In Murbach, due to the terrain, it is not possible to install a mobile phone transmitter, although there is internet. Cabin No. 468 is used for emergency calls. There is no slot for coins or cards that have been used in such machines.

The phone is still ringing

However, 468 has its own phone number you can call. The mayor’s representative, Esmeralda Mura, told AFP that the phone “is still ringing non-stop” since the media release. Staff left paper and pens in the phone booths so that those who answered the phone could record the conversation.

According to AFP, the ringing continues regularly, but sometimes even if someone picks up the phone out of curiosity, nothing happens.

Caller’s Memories

Jean-Paul Grasser from Strasbourg was one of those who inadvertently answered the phone on a pay phone, having a brief telephone conversation with a stranger calling from Amiens. Grasser, 80, told AFP that such conversations bring back fond memories. Without giving details, he recalled that 30-40 years ago, when he needed to have certain secret telephone conversations, he did so in a phone booth like this one.

Alex Thibaud, a 46-year-old entrepreneur, dialed cabin number 468. An AFP reporter picked up the phone to listen to him. The businessman believes that in the past, people had better relationships with each other, but today technology has tethered people to their smartphones.

Esmeralda Mura from the mayor’s office admitted that until now, Mühlbach had no idea it could have such a peculiarity. Guide Thomas Studer said that the tour around the city used to end at the medieval gardens. Now the last point is the telephone box.