Do you know what is buried under the broad streets of Paris? The history of these tunnels began in the 18th century when Paris was facing many problems. Who can imagine that the romantic and beautiful city of Paris can also have a dark side?
The Haunted Catacombs of Paris are waiting for you to know their dark origin. Paris was not like the city as you know it now. It was overpopulated, and many unfortunate events took place here.
The overpopulation of the city brought many other problems with it. To solve the problem, the authorities came up with the idea of using the ossuary.
This article will provide details about the history and information on how many bodies are in the Paris Catacombs. So, stay till the end and learn all the secrets of the Paris Catacombs.
Key Takeaways:
- Learn the unusual history of cemeteries being overflown and using the old mines to save the city.
- It took 12 years to move the bones in the Catacombs.
- It is the resting place of 6 million people.
- Many famous people were buried here.
- Some helpful information to get around Paris Catacombs.
Paris Catacombs History: from cemeteries being overflown to using the old mines to save the city
Do you know why were the Paris Catacombs built? This is your chance to learn the secrets of Paris Catacombs. The history of the Paris Catacombs reveals the dark parts of Paris.
It all started at the Holy Innocents’ cemetery, a place that had been in use for decades as the burial place of the city. This was the oldest cemetery in Paris. During the 14th century, the cemetery started to be filled with more bodies than its limit.
During that time, a plague occurred, and with the destruction of the 15th century, more bodies were buried here. Soon, toxic gas from the decomposed bodies spread. People began to complain, and many got sick.
The problem became a national health crisis; the polluted air brought many diseases. The hospitals were getting filled with sick Parisians In 1780, people discovered the source of the smell.
The authorities of Paris noticed the rising health crisis, and they came up with a solution to solve the problem. The old mines from the Roman era grabbed their attention. It was then decided that this was going to be the home of 6 million dead Parisians.
Did it take 12 years to transfer the bones?
Among the Catacombs in Paris facts, it took 12 years to transfer all the remaining, which is another fact. The authorities decided that they would use the old mines to relocate the bones from their graves.
But initially, they just threw all the remains into the tunnels. The bones were unorganized; they needed some extra attention. Later, the inspector, Héricart de Thury, took the initiative to rearrange the bones.
With his guidance, the place got a new look. The aesthetically arranged skulls and bones are his creation. After 12 years, the last bone was transferred into the ossuary. First, it was known as the Paris Municipal Ossuary. Later, it got the name Paris Catacombs.
The burial ground of 6 million people
When the citizens of Paris started to develop various health diseases, the authorities took a vital decision. They thought that relocating the bones from the Holy Innocents’ graveyard would solve the problem.
The graveyards were overflown. Over six million people were transferred from their burials to the catacombs. It took almost 12 years to complete the transformation work.
After the French Revolution, the corpses were dumped in the catacombs. The number of dead bodies inside the catacombs was increasing. Later, it was estimated that there were 6 million bones of people.
The Catacombs of Paris were first known as the “Paris municipal ossuary.” Then, in 1786, on April 17, the name was changed to Paris Catacombs. The catacombs of Paris became the resting place of 6 million dead people.
Which famous people are buried here?
In the Paris Catacombs restricted area, there are burials of many famous people. Can you believe it? Yes, that’s true! There are many tested proofs of famous people being buried here.
Famous people like architect Salomon de Brosse, renowned French writers Charles Perrault and Jean de La Fontaine, and painter Simon Vouet were buried here.
The catacombs of Paris were turned into the final resting place for these famous people. Beneath the streets of Paris, the remains of death waiting for tourists.
Helpful information to get around the Paris Catacombs
If you are planning to visit the Paris Catacombs, then here are some helpful tips for you,
- Remember to check the official website of Paris Catacombs to find out the availability.
- If the tickets are sold out, then check out other websites for Paris Catacombs tickets.
- If you don’t know about online bookings, then this article on how to buy tickets for Paris catacombs might help you.
- There are many ticket variations. So, select the one you find suitable.
- To save time and money, check out these Paris Catacombs skip-the-line tickets.
- You can look into the Paris Catacombs tickets and audio guides, and if you want a real guide, then check out the Paris Catacombs access tickets with host.
- Lastly, if you’re in a hurry, then look for the last-minute tickets.
Conclusion
The Paris Catacombs are one of the mysteries that people are eagerly waiting to solve. The tunnels echo many hidden secrets of the Paris Catacombs Community. However, many other eerie truths are still buried inside the dark tunnels.
This article on how many bodies are in the Paris Catacombs covered all the information that was hidden. So, don’t waste your time and grab the hidden gems. Discover all the catacombs of Paris scary stories with us.
If you agree that this article has helped you, then feel free to leave a comment down below.
FAQs – How Many Bodies Are in The Paris Catacombs
How many people died in the Paris Catacombs?
According to the official, there is only one report of death in the Paris Catacombs. But you will definitely find the remains of 6 million people inside the catacombs.
Has anyone fully explored the Paris Catacombs?
The Paris Catacombs have been fully explored, but only the parts that are open to visitors.
Why are there 6 million people in the Paris Catacombs?
When Holy Innocents’ was overflown, many diseases occurred. The problem became a national crisis. So, the Paris officials decided to move the bones into the catacombs.
What was discovered in the Catacombs in 2004?
The police officers discovered a fully furnished movie theatre, but when they came back with the search team, it all vanished. Moreover, they also found a note saying, “Don’t look.”
What really happened to the French catacombs explorer, and why did he drop the camera and run?
Even though there was not much to discover from the 40-minute video, it still seemed like the cataphile got spooked and ran.
Is it illegal to take a bone from the Paris Catacombs?
The Paris Catacombs are strictly patrolled. If you can take anything without alarming anyone, then there’s nothing illegal. But if you are caught, then you might get arrested.
Are the skulls in the Paris catacombs real?
The Catacombs in Paris are the home of 6 million dead Parisians. So, yes, the skulls in the Paris Catacombs are real.
How big are the Paris Catacombs?
The Paris Catacombs are approximately 280 kilometres long, but only 1.5 kilometres are accessible to tourists to visit.
