Paris, the city of love, poetry, and art, is also known for its haunted history. But the dark origin of Paris remains under the streets of Paris. Vising the Paris Catacombs might not be on your list, but have you ever wondered why not? Do you know about the secrets of Paris Catacombs Community?
Well, visiting the Paris Catacombs should be on your list next time. If you are a mystery lover and are crazy about ancient history, then Catacombs in Paris Facts is just the thing you need right now. Behind the beautiful sites lie the most haunting secrets. Brace yourselves, as we are about to visit the surface underneath the lovely roads of Paris. The empire of death and secrets is ready to take your breath away!
Key Takeaways:
- The Catacombs were known as the “Paris Municipal Ossuary” in 1786; later, the name changed to Catacomb.
- The Catacombs became famous because of their dark past and their artistic view of bones.
- The incident from 2004, about a cataphile gone missing, gained vast popularity. People showed more curiosity about the place, and gradually, the Catacombs stories became famous.
- From wine heists to the illegal parties in the catacombs of Paris, and the rumors of The Gate of Hell being in the catacombs, all of them serve as the eerie secrets of the Catacombs in Paris.
- The 5 most weird and wonderful Catacombs of Paris facts will blow your mind.
- From 9.45 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. are the opening hours to visit the Catacombs of Paris.
- The useful and quick tips about the catacombs include what you should take with you and where you can find the tickets.
What are the Catacombs of Paris and their site history?
You are in the city of culture, love, and art, but do you know all about this city? Don’t let the alluring beauty of the city make you blind to the truth that lies underneath the surface. The Catacombs are the place that the Paris authorities used as the final resting place for 6 million bodies.
The ancient history of the Catacombs of Paris started long ago when Paris was plagued with a major health crisis. During the 18th century, the population was growing, and so was the capacity of the cemeteries. The overflowing graveyards started causing health problems and sanitary issues around the city. The authorities had to come up with a proper plan to keep the situation under control.
Soon, the authorities found a new and easy solution to the growing problem. They found the Tombe-Issoire-quarries, a tunnel built for networking during Roman times. It was soon going to be the resting place of 6 million deaths.
In 1785, the authorities started the evacuating processes of the bones and remains from the graves to the tunnels. On 7th April 1786, the place was reconstructed and named the “Paris Municipal Ossuary,” holding the remains of millions of people. Later, the name was changed to “Catacombs.” It took 12 years to transfer the remains of 6 million dead people.
Why are the Catacombs of Paris so famous?
The catacombs are mainly famous for their eerie and dark secrets. Over the past decade, this place has been serving as the burial ground for millions of dead people. The legends, the myths, and the artistic view of bones bear the significance of this place.
Over the years, the travel enthusiast has visited these dark tunnels filled with the horrors of Paris. Here are some of the reasons why the place is so famous,
- The famous story from 2004 was the first shocking incident that gained vast popularity. Many cataphiles were drowning in the news; thus, they decided to investigate the matter thoroughly.
- The rumours of hearing various weird noises and whispers are one of the ongoing ones that people are curious about to know the accuracy of the news.
- The general inspector of the ossuary, Louis-Étienne Héricart de Thury, decided to reconstruct the place; hence, he assembled the bones to create an artistic look. The aesthetics of the place caught the attention of people.
- Many people talk about the woman in a white dress that represents the fashion of the 19th century. However, it is one of the reasons that this place became famous.
- Many people love historical adventure, and many are drawn to the idea of discovering the unknown. Whatever the reasons, the Catacombs of Paris were successful in grabbing the attention of most people.
Day by day, the popularity reached its peak, and the crowd was learning more information about the place. The mysterious events, shocking revelations, and unknown facts that had been lurking as rumours fueled curiosity and made the place more famous.
The Eerie Secrets of the Catacombs in Paris
Like a coin, Paris has two sides, one showing the bright lights, and the other showing the darkness beneath the roads. The dark and eerie secrets of the Catacombs of Paris will make you want to explore the haunted Catacombs of Paris. Here are some of the most researched eerie secrets of the catacombs of Paris,
- One of the viral news stories about the Catacombs is the wine heist. Yes, you heard it right. In 2017, a group of people went inside the tunnel, but not for exploring. According to the reports, they went to the wine cellar through the catacombs and busted 300 bottles of wine, worth €250,000.
- It’s the place where illegal parties take place. Various reports state that many illegal parties are being held down there. From bachelor parties to movie shooting, many illegal activities are happening here.
- A famous variant of mushrooms known as button mushrooms was once grown here. In 1880, around 300 farmers worked in the mines of Paris and cultivated almost 1000 tonnes of button mushrooms, later known as the Paris mushrooms.
- Ever wonder, how big are the Paris Catacombs? The enormous tunnels and the chambers underneath expand nearly 322 kilometres (200 miles). But sadly, it is not fully accessible to the common people. Visitors are permitted to travel the route that covers 0.93 to 1.24 miles (1.5 kilometres to 2 kilometres).
- Rumours have it that the gate of hell lies here. The Barrièr D’enfer tollhouses were once located in the suburbs of Paris, known as the gate of hell. The accuracy of the news might be questionable, but it has been going on for a long time.
The 5 Most Weird and Wonderful Catacombs In Paris Facts
The more you know about the Paris Catacombs, the more surprised you will be. Along with eerie secrets and interesting facts about the catacombs of Paris, there are also many weird and wonderful facts to make you curious about the place. Here are the 7 most weird and wonderful Paris Catacombs Facts,
1. The resting place of 6 million dead
In 1785, the workers began to transfer bodies from the Holy Innocents to the crypt of the city. The only solution to the city’s sanitary problem was inside these tunnels. The growing population of the city came with the problem of overflowing graveyards. Soon, the citizens began to experience health issues. Thus, the authorities had to decide how to control the ongoing issue.
They decided that the remains of the dead people would be relocated somewhere else. Soon, they found a suitable place, and that was in the suburbs of the city. It is now the resting place of 6 million dead people. The catacombs were once known as the “Paris Municipal Ossuary.” But on April 17, 1786, it was officially changed to “Catacombs.”
2. The untold horror of the Paris Catacombs
Under the bright lights, the untold horror of the Paris Catacombs remains in the dark. The stories of visitors facing some weird issues are part of these horrors.
Many visitors have reportedly complained about the weird noises and whispering in the tunnels. Many have seen a blurry figure, wearing a white dress resembling the 19th century. The story doesn’t end here; it continues with people getting lost in these labyrinths.
3. The Catacombs Were Used During World War II
During World War 2, Nazi Germany surrounded Paris, and they fought with everything they had. While everyone might know about the French Resistance, you might not know about what was going on under the ground.
Catacombs are naturally secret keepers, hideouts, or secret passageways. During the war, the Parisians used it accordingly.
4. Lost lives in The Catacombs
As adventurous as it seems, the Paris Catacombs can be the scariest place that you have ever been. Many stories of many lives getting lost in the maze of these catacombs are real.
The stories started when, in the early 1990s, a cataphile went missing while he ran in the darkness, leaving his camera behind.
Another story that people talk about is the incident of 2017 when two teenagers almost got lost and faced a tragic fate in the catacombs. Luckily, they were soon found.
5. In 1860, the last bones and remains were allocated in the Catacombs
The transportation of the bones continued until 1814. It was disrupted when opposition tried to emerge between 1814 and 1840. However, the work resumed in 1860 and continued till the last bone was allocated.
The mysterious Catacombs often attract people seeking adventure and the ancient history of Paris. These tunnels allow the visitor to take part in the thrilling journey of discovering the fascinating and secretive past.
What Are the Paris Catacombs Visiting Hours?
To have the best adventure in your life at the Catacombs in Paris, you must gather all the useful pieces of information. Thus, knowing about the opening hours is one of them,
The Catacombs of Paris are open from Tuesday to Sunday, and the opening time is 9.45 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.; however, the last admissions are at 7:30 p.m.
The Catacombs in Paris are open on July 14, August 15, November 1, and November 11.
It is closed on Mondays and holidays like January 1, May 1, and December 25.
Quick Tips for visiting the Paris Catacombs
Have you made up your mind yet? If yes, then here are some useful quick tips for visiting the Paris Catacombs,
- Firstly, the suggestion would be to go early in the morning to avoid the crowd.
- If you are planning to get the on-site tickets, then there might be a long line waiting for you. Most of the time, the tickets are sold out, but don’t worry, because there’s an option to pre-book your tickets online.
- You can pre-book your tickets from websites like, Get Your Guide, Viator, and Tripadvisor. It would both save time and money for you.
- If you are facing trouble and don’t know how to buy tickets for Paris Catacombs, then here are some tips, go to the website of Tours Travel Finder. Select the ticket and what type you need, then choose the date and time. Fill out the additional information and select the suitable payment method. After you have completed the payment, you’ll receive a confirmation email for Paris Catacombs tickets. Download it and save it to visit the Catacombs of Paris.
- To visit the catacombs, prepare your backpack with flashlights, a camera, water, and comfortable shoes.
Conclusion
The Catacombs in Paris Facts are rich with information and historical background. The horrors, the excitement, and the thrill of knowing the unknown will always satisfy your soul. And the catacombs in Paris are like a treasure under the streets. From an artistic perspective to hidden secrets, this place is the ultimate destination for any thriller and adventure lover.
However, this article is just a piece of information that will give you everything you know about the Catacombs, Paris, and more. It will also prepare you for this journey into ancient history. So, enjoy the time you can have in the empire of deaths and secrets of the catacombs in Paris.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is it legal to go in the Paris catacombs?
A certain portion of the place is allowed for visitors to visit. So, yes, going in the Paris Catacombs is legal if you follow the restrictions.
2. Are there any other catacombs in Paris?
You can find other crips or catacombs in Paris. But the Catacombs in Paris are the largest.
3. Are the Paris Catacombs haunted?
The Catacombs in Paris are known as one of the world’s most haunted and scary places.
4. Are the skulls in the catacombs real?
The catacombs are filled with the remains of 6 million people. In this sense, yes, the skulls in the catacombs are real.
5. Who built the Paris catacombs and why?
The authorities of Paris decided to transfer the bodies from the overflowing graves so that the city’s health crisis would be under control. Alexandre Lenoir initially decided to use the mines underneath the roads as the Catacombs.
