Apache hides directories with .htaccess file

Placing .htaccess file to the directory will hide it from the parent directory index. Simply said, directory with .htaccess file will be hidden by default in Apache 2.2 and later. To display directories with .htaccess file, document root (or subtree) should have set ShowForbidden index option. ShowForbidden is a new option in Apache 2.2 and it's not set by default.