Welcome to the spine-chilling horrors of the Catacombs of Paris. Far from the bright lights and romantic side of Paris, here lurks the mystery of the past. If you love thrilling mysteries and adventure, you are in the right place then. Paris is known for its blazing beauty, poetry, and artwork, but it also has a dark side, hiding many secrets and untold stories.
Under the fine roads of Paris, you’ll find a hundred miles of catacombs. The Catacombs of Paris are known as the dark valley of eerie secrets of Paris catacombs. In this article, we will explore the tunnels of unknown facts about the Catacombs, legends, myths, and the Catacombs of Paris scary stories.
Key Takeaways:
- The Catacombs of Paris were built over the remains of 6 million people
- The Catacombs were first known as the Paris Municipal Ossuary in 1787. You’ll find the art of bones—no, not artificial bones, they are real human bones.
- The fascinating legends, myths, and adventures await you under the streets of Paris.
- 7 spine-chilling scary stories of the Paris Catacombs, from the Catacomb Butcher to the rumoured meeting place of the secret society.
- The top 5 unknown facts about the Catacombs of Paris.
Paris Catacombs, or the city of the dead?
This is a sinister place that will surely make your bones shiver. If your keen eyes are searching for some spooky revel and unknown catacombs stories, then you must visit the Catacombs of Paris.
The catacombs beneath Paris are not the only ones; there are more underneath the church and cemetery. But this is the longest and largest catacomb. Only a small portion of it is accessible to the general public. However, the portion open to all is worth enough to pay a visit when you are in Paris. It was built as an underground crypt to hold the remains of 6 million people.
During the 18th century, the graveyards were overflowing with dead people; eventually, the government decided to open the tunnels underneath. Further, it became the resting place of many people who were not alive. Till now, many people don’t know the real truth of The Haunted Catacombs of Paris, as no one knows what might be revealed if they dig deeper.
History and Architecture of the Catacombs of Paris
History: A dark and eerie past is associated with the history of the Catacombs of Paris. During the late 18th century, there was a major health crisis in Paris, resulting in death all around. The graveyards were overflowing, so burials in the city were banned. Subsequently, the authority decided to transfer the graves underground.
They selected an easy-to-access place located outside of the capital at that time. On April 7, 1786, the place was known as the “Paris Municipal Ossuary.” Later, it was changed to “catacombs,” like “Roman Catacombs.”
Architectural Overview: The Catacombs story will always be exciting, just like its architectural overview. Here’s a short architectural overview of the spooky Catacombs of Paris.
Artwork of bones—are they real?
The catacombs were built with the remains of dead people, so don’t be shocked if you get to see the art of bones. The art of bones is the best among all the astonishing facts about the catacombs.
Back then, the General Inspector of the Quarries, Louis-Étienne Héricart de Thury, decided to assemble them in a pleasing order that did not scare people but rather prompted their curiosity. Later, the bones were organized like a museum, such as the Augustan columns, commemorative table, and altar. The shaped sculptures are considered the artwork of bones.
Sculptures from the Catacombs of Paris
The bones were everywhere, crawling, but instead of making it a spooky, haunted place, the quarry worker and the general inspector made the place resemble art. Between 1777 and 1782, they did their best to show their passion. Later, an army veteran discovered it and started his work to build buildings underground. Unfortunately, during the French Revolution, many sculptures were damaged.
Legendary Myths and Adventures in the Catacombs of Paris
If you dig deeper, you will find many legendary myths that will astonish you. The Catacombs of Paris surround many legendary stories, and the story about the lost video camera is one of them. It is being said that in 1990, a group of cataphiles were strolling when they stumbled into an abandoned and lost video camera.
When they opened the camera out of curiosity, the disturbing noise made them agitated. No one knows whose camera it was, or what might have happened to him! Some believe that the owner had gone mad while being trapped inside the tunnels, and others think he had gone lost in the unknown.
In 2004, a shocking incident happened, when officers were in the closed part of catacombs that were not open to the public. They discovered many shocking and peculiar things, such as a PA system, a bar, a cinema theatre that can accommodate 20 people, a workplace, and a common room. But when the officers came with a bigger team, it all disappeared, only leaving a note written, ‘DON’T SEARCH.
Another story is going on about a woman searching for her lost love. According to the story, it’s been stated that a woman in white attire, like 19th-century fashion, is seen roaming around the dark alley of the catacombs. She is described as a romantic figure, not harming anyone, just searching for her lost love.
7 Bone-Chilling Catacombs Stories of Paris
Do you think that you have experienced all the adventures? What about the Catacombs of Paris? If you missed your chance to explore the haunted catacombs of Paris, then here are 7 bone-chilling Paris catacombs stories for you. After reading these stories, you’ll surely visit the Catacombs of Paris.
1. Weird noises and whispers from the tunnel
Many visitors have reportedly said that they heard strange noises, and whispers from the tunnel. Science might not believe it, but what they encountered is beyond explanation.
The dark and thin alley created a mystic atmosphere. Many people have also admitted that they heard the sounds of footsteps. Where millions of people were buried, then these kinds of stories were bound to happen.
2. The story of two teens and a group of people who vanished and never returned from the catacombs
Legend tells the story of an 18th-century cataphile group that got lost in the never-ending tunnel, further driven mad due to hunger and the endless life ahead. While its accuracy may be questionable, it has been serving as a legend ever since.
Then comes the story of the teens who got lost in these tunnels. According to the report, a pair of 16-year-old and 17-year-old teens were lost in the mysterious alley of the horror Paris catacombs. Fortunately, they were found, thanks to the rescue team, who did everything in their power.
3. Is there a gate to hell in Paris catacombs?
Have you ever wondered if there is a way to hell on earth? This time, everyone is going to be shocked because there might be a gate to hell, but in the haunted catacombs of Paris. The Barrièr D’enfer tollhouses, which are located on the outskirts of Paris, were once known as the Get to Hell in the Catacombs. Catacombs’ stories are the most fun and scary adventures you’ll ever hear or witness.
4. The catacombs serve as the meeting place of secret societies.
This place has been serving as a meeting place since the 20th century. The military force used these tunnels for their secret meetings. However, in this modern era, there are also rumors about it being used as the meeting place of secret societies or cults.
Recently, a TikTok user posted a viral video about this topic. According to the video, there are proofs of secret societies meeting and staying in haunted French catacombs.
5. The chamber of ancient, forbidden knowledge
According to the legend, it’s been suspected that there is a chamber beneath the surface, and no one knows about it. People say that some ancient, forbidden knowledge is hidden in the depths of these catacombs. However, whether it’s true or has a different story, for now, all we know is that there might be something mysterious and forbidden underneath the streets of Paris.
6. Philibert Aspairt, the ghost roaming in the Catacombs of Paris
Philibert Aspairt worked as a doorman in the Val-de-Grâce hospital at the time of the French Revolution. He was on a mission to fetch a special liquor from the cellar. He stepped into the catacombs accidentally. Unfortunately, with just a candle in hand, he soon faced the dark side of the tunnel, making it impossible for him to escape the sinister catacombs.
Later, a group of cataphiles discovered his body after 11 years. The hospital keys helped them identify Philibert’s body. He was buried in the catacombs, and there are local stories about his ghost haunting the place every year on 3rd November.
7. A quarry worker haunting the Catacombs
The mysterious Catacombs will never fail to shock you and make you shiver. There are stories about supernatural things happening down in the tunnels. According to the reports of many visitors, they witnessed a spiritual figure identified as a quarry worker. The dress of that figure matches that of the historical workers. However, it is up to you to believe, but the tales of spiritual beings down there are often heard from many tourists and cataphiles.
Top 5 Unknown Facts About the Catacombs of Paris
The ghostly stories are enough to create mystery and suspense surrounding the catacombs. But that’s not all for the catacomb stories. Wait, as we are about to unveil the mask of the unknown. Here are our top 5 picked unknown facts about the horror of the Catacombs of Paris.
1. The 18th-century Catacomb of Paris was crowded with graves
During the 18th century, many Parisians were buried on the grounds of the Paris church. But the most horrifying thing about this was that the graves were left open until they were full of dead bodies. After the bodies were disposed of, the authorities would open the graves again to re-fill them.
Holy Innocents’ Cemetery was recorded as the largest burial. Over 500 years, this ground was cursed with burials. But over time, sanitation became a burning question. A new health crisis occurred, and further investigations showed that gases from the buried dead bodies were leaking from the cellar walls. However, eventually, the authorities shut it down as it became a threat to public health.
2. Montrouge was the main entrance of the Catacombs of Paris
A health crisis arose when the grounds became the burial grounds of millions of people. The authorities took the initiative to transfer the bodies to a different location due to public complaints. In the year 1785, they began to transfer the bodies of Saint-Innocents to an abandoned place in Montrouge. It was a small town outside the city, and it was made with many large tunnels making their way to Paris.
3. The makeover of the catacomb in the 19th century
Napoleon III and the infamous planner Baron Haussmann decided to give the city a new look in 1840. They remodeled many parts of the city, making it more spacious for the people to live a better life. This initiative involved more bodies being transferred to the catacombs. The site was then officially cited as the “Paris Municipal Ossuary.”
4. The rearrangement of the bones from 1810 to 1814
A French mining engineer and a politician named Louis-Étienne Héricart de Thury took the initiative to rearrange the place. It eventually became a museum of bones, where it was presented as an artwork of bones. Paris is mostly known for its artistic movement and the aesthetics of its artwork. The mysterious Catacombs became one of the masterpieces that Paris had due to the rearrangement program.
5. Hundreds of tunnels lie under the streets of Paris, holding the remains of 6 million people
According to the estimated number, the tunnels are 200 miles long, and more tunnels joined and made the Catacombs of Paris. It’s like having a city under the surface. No one can accurately tell how long and how many tunnels are under there. But these tunnels hold the remains of 6 million people.
Conclusion
The city of lights has a dark secret under its surface. The Catacombs of Paris’s scary stories prove that secrets are always dark and in front of eyes but never revealed. The mysterious and forbidden tales of Paris will always remain content inside the Catacombs of Paris. This article covered the most shocking and unknown truths that were in the dark for a long time, making information accessible to you all.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Are the skulls in the Catacombs of Paris real?
Certainly, they are real, as the Catacombs of Paris are known to be built with the remains of 6 million dead people.
Q2. What are the scary facts about the Catacombs of Paris?
The fact that it was built when the graveyards were overflowing, and later, with the remains of 6 million people, this place was established, is scary. The haunted history of the Catacombs of Paris also tells us about the weird noises, sounds of footsteps, and blurry and unnatural figures that make it a lot worse than scary.
Q3. What is the story behind the Catacombs of Paris?
During the late 18th century, Paris’s graveyards were flooded with the dead. But gradually, the authorities decided they would transport these skulls and remain in the tunnel.
Q4. Are the Catacombs of Paris dark tourism?
It is one of the darkest tourist spots because of its harrowing past. But a small portion of the tunnel is free for everyone.
Q5. Who built the Paris Catacombs?
Alexandre Lenoir initially came up with the idea of using underground tunnels to deposit the remains of the dead.
