Fifty-six years ago today, on January 20, 1969 (December 3, 1968), the Maginot Line was discovered to be usable as a home. In January 1969, were you eager to spend a fortune on an underground fortress? The French government is selling some 30-year-old forts for a fraction of their original price. Covers and bunkers along the Maginot Line, a series of fortifications built near the German border to defend against the Nazis, are being sold for $125 to $1,000. But the line didn't work. Because of its association with national shame, the French public is reluctant to buy these small semi-underground structures. A spokesperson for the real estate ministry said: "These fortresses make great holiday places, plus there are really some beautiful views across the Rhine..."