What lies beneath the bright and cheerful city streets of Paris? Curious to know? Today, many dark and mysterious secrets of Paris Catacombs will be uncovered. These centuries-old tombs are hiding things beyond your imagination.
Under the bustling city streets of Paris, secrets await you in the dark. Paris is not only the romantic and artistic city you know about. Under the mask of beauty, many ugly truths are waiting for you.
The Catacombs of Paris hold the history of ancient Paris. If you are someone looking for historical discoveries, then you are in the right place.
From eerie history to legends and myths, the catacombs of Paris are filled with forbidden truths. By the end of this article, you will know every Catacombs of Paris scary stories.
Key Takeaways:
- The Catacombs of Paris are home to 6 million dead Parisians.
- The death trap known as the sinkhole is one of the reasons that Paris authorities decided to relocate the bodies.
- History repeats itself, and you will know why in this article.
- 5 eerie yet interesting secrets of Paris catacombs.
- The Paris catacombs are not the oldest catacombs in the world.
- The catacombs of Paris were built following Rome’s version of the catacombs. Details are in the article.
What are the Paris Catacombs?
Every coin has two sides, and so does Paris. One side will show you the creations, the bright lights, and the romantic roads. But the other side will take you to the darkness of history.
Do you know why were the Paris Catacombs built? It all started when Paris faced the national crisis of sanitization. During the 18th century, the growing population of Paris caused many problems. And it needed instant solutions.
Back then, the cemetery of the Holy Innocents’ was used to deposit dead bodies. They used to keep the graves open to deposit many bodies together. But soon, the cemetery’s wall was damaged. Dangerous gas from the dead bodies leaked and poisoned the air.
Very soon, the citizens started to face many health problems. And the issue became a national crisis. The authorities had to make an instant and fruitful decision to solve the problem.
They rediscovered the Tombe-Issoire-quarries, built for networking during World War II. However, the authorities decided to use them as the resting place of 6 million dead Parisians.
In 1785, they began evacuating the bones and remains. On April 7, 1786, the place was reconstructed and named the “Paris Municipal Ossuary.” Later, it became the “Catacombs.” It took around 12 years to finish transferring all the remains.
Sinkholes or the death trap?
Many noteworthy buildings in Paris were built with a special kind of rock called “Lutetian Limestone,” or “Paris Stone.” By the 1700s, the city had grown a lot and covered most of the mines. The ground became unstable and caused many problems.
In 1774, a major issue occurred. A massive sinkhole called the “road to hell” appeared on the street, mainly named Rue de l’Enfer. It took houses, cars, and many lives under 84 feet with it.
Over the years, many other sinkholes were found. It created panic in the public. Soon, in 1777, King Louis XVI came up with a plan and created an inspection team named Inspection Générale des Carrières.
Charles-Axel Guillaumot was made in charge of the team. He had to fill the mines with overcrowded cemetery bones to solve the problem. This terrifying solution was proven to be right. They soon filled the empty tunnels with the remains, and people got rid of the death traps or the sinkholes.
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Throughout history, religion has played an integral role in every aspect. In 1765, the Paris Parliament enforced a new rule to protect the sanitization of the city. Burying the bodies of the dead was forbidden.
From January, new burials would take place outside of the city’s new cemeteries. But many religious-minded people disagreed with that. In 1780, citizens living near the Holy Innocents’ cemetery started getting sick.
Investigators found that the gas leak from the rotten bodies was the main reason behind it. The government, facing a national issue, had to shut down the cemeteries to protect the city.
5 Eerie yet Interesting Secrets of Paris Catacombs
To learn more about the catacombs in Paris facts, don’t forget to visit the catacombs next time. Here are some of the eerie yet interesting secrets of Paris catacombs,
The city of death: remains of 6 million people
In 1785, the workers began their work. Many bodies were transferred to the underground tombs. The “Paris Municipal Ossuary” officially became the “Catacombs” on April 7th, 1786.
But the French Revolution gave it a little pause. But during the revolution, people started to bury the bodies directly in the catacombs. And eventually, it became the home of 6 million dead Parisians.
The empire of the dead, or the home to the remains of 6 million people, is waiting down in the mines to be discovered. The haunted catacombs of Paris will make your visit to Paris a successful getaway.
The illegal Paris catacombs map
Do you know how big are the Paris catacombs? It covers more than 300 kilometres, but only 1.5 kilometres are accessible to visitors. And this long tunnel has more than one entrance. Many people have found the location of these entrances.
However, these pathways are forbidden, and the authorities have set rules not to use them. Being part of the illegal Paris Catacombs map, visitors are not allowed to visit.
But it’s the rule of nature, humans are more attracted to forbidden things. Many people have used these illegal maps. Due to their usage, these forbidden entries had made their way to the maps.
The artistic display of bone and the sculptures
During the 18th century, they began to transfer the bones and remains to the tunnels. The bones were just dumped in the Paris Catacombs. Seeing the disorganized bones, Louis-Étienne Héricart de Thury decided to give them a new look.
He came up with a plan to organize the bones. Thus, the bones were displayed artistically. As you venture deeper into the catacombs, you will see the bones are not only lined up. You will find artwork of bones there.
One of the most recognized works is “The Monuments of Fortitude,” displaying the meaning of life. It states that human souls can stay strong even in the darkest times of their lives.
The Forbidden legends, myths, and Secrets of Paris Catacombs
The French Catacombs are one of the mysteries that people are eager to solve. The most bone-chilling Paris catacombs legends and myths cover a pretty great history. Here are some of our findings,
- Do you know about the Catacombs wine heists? A group of people in 2017 explored these mines but with different motifs. The reports say that these outsiders found their way to the wine cellar. They used the catacombs to bust 300 bottles of wine worth €250,000.
- According to some sources, many illegal parties are being held down there. From Bachelorette to many others, secret parties are still taking place.
- There is news about the weird and unusual noises inside the catacombs.
- The shocking discoveries in 2004 increased the popularity of the catacombs of Paris. The officers found illegal theatres for cinemas and living room facilities with a bar inside the tunnels.
- Do you know about the woman in a white dress? She is known as the romantic figure of the Catacombs. Many visitors have seen this 19th-century fashioned woman’s blurry image, searching for her love.
- Many reports state that people have vanished inside this dark valley of secrets. In 1990, a group of explorers, or cataphiles, found a camera. As they went through the footage, it shocked everyone. They saw a guy drop the camera and run toward the darkness. No one knew what happened to him. It’s like he vanished into the unknown.
- There are also people reporting about the secret society. They are sometimes called the secret Paris Catacombs community.
Farmers once grew mushrooms here
One of the weirdest facts about the Paris catacombs is the cultivation of mushrooms. According to the tales, the farmers had used the forbidden catacombs to produce mushrooms.
Inside the tunnels, the atmosphere was perfect for the mushrooms. But soon the military discovered the place and the huge production of mushrooms. News spread at the speed of light, and the farmers had to relocate their mushrooms.
Till now, many people have cultivated mushrooms inside these tunnels, but they remain in the dark. And no one knows who they are or how they get in.
Were the Catacombs in Paris built following Rome’s version?
The Roman catacombs were made when the plague spread in Rome. To bury those bodies, they used the catacombs. Later, the officials gave commands to organize the bones. Thus, it became an artistic place for visitors.
When Paris faced the same issue regarding health and sanitization, they followed the ancient Romans. However, there are differences between these catacombs. But the main motif behind building these burials was similar.
Paris authorities followed in the footsteps of the Roman Empire. They succeeded in solving their problems. The Paris Catacombs are the most famous for their history and horrific stories.
Are the Paris Catacombs the oldest?
The catacombs of Paris were made after Rome. So, according to history and statistics, other older catacombs were made before these. But the Paris catacombs are enriched with history and many legendary myths, which beats every other catacomb in the world.
The oldest burials, catacombs, are located in Alexandria, Egypt. It was created back in the 12th century BC.
Another one was discovered in Mycenaean Greece during 1500 BC, and lastly, a reconstructed burial was found in Etruscan Italy in 600 BC. Despite everything, the Paris catacombs remain the most mysterious and eerie catacombs in the world.
Things to Know Before Going
Before going on the Catacombs of Paris tours, you need to note down some important information. Here are the things you need to know before going,
- To unveil the secret life of the Parisian Catacombs, you need to keep an hour in hand.
- Visiting the Catacombs for the first time might cause some confusion and anxiety. So, book a guide for the trip. We advise you to check the Paris Catacombs access tickets with the host. And also the Paris Catacombs tickets and audio guided.
- You can explore and take pictures, but you cannot touch any bones. They are old and fragile. So, keep your hands away from the bones.
- We do not recommend this place for people with motor disabilities who use wheelchairs. And also people with heart conditions and who are claustrophobic.
- Make sure to book your Paris Catacombs tickets in advance. You can check our Paris Catacombs reserved access tours for last-minute ticket booking.
Summary
The mysterious Paris Catacombs are the dark valley of Paris. Under the wide and cheerful streets hide the forbidden secrets. Be prepared when you visit Paris next time because this journey is going to be your best experience.
In this journey into uncertainty, you will learn about the rich history of the Paris Catacombs. And all the interesting secrets of the Paris Catacombs are a bonus for you.
Do you think this article has increased your hunger to uncover the secret? Then please leave a message about your opinion on this piece of writing.
FAQs
Have the Paris Catacombs been fully explored?
The Paris catacombs have fully been explored. According to sources, there is no track, but these 300 kilometres have indeed been explored.
What did police discover in the Catacombs in 2004?
While on a regular troll, the officers discovered many things, including a cinema theatre and a living room with a fine bar. But when the officers came back with force, it was all gone, with a note saying, “Don’t try to look for us.”
What are the secret underground tunnels in Paris?
The secret underground tunnels in Paris are known as the Paris Catacombs. It has been serving as the resting place for 6 million dead Parisians.
How many people have died exploring the Catacombs?
There are no official records of people dying inside the Catacombs. Then again, there are reports of people vanishing into the darkness of the catacombs.
What is the biggest underground city?
The city of Derinkuyu is known as the biggest underground city in the world.
