Paris, the city of lights and romance, hides a dark secret beneath its charming surface – the Catacombs, a vast network of underground ossuary that houses the remains of millions of former Parisians. This eerie and captivating destination is one of the most unique and unsettling attractions in the world, drawing visitors from all over the globe to explore its macabre corridors and ponder the mysteries of the past.
The Origins of the Catacombs
The story of the Paris Catacombs actually begins in the late eighteenth century, when officials began to recognize that the city’s traditional cemeteries had become putrid, overflowing, and unhygienic messes. Cemeteries such as Les Innocents were so stuffed with the dead that it led to improper burials, open graves, and unearthed corpses. Neighbors began falling ill with infectious diseases due to the unhealthy conditions, prompting authorities to take action.
With tons of empty quarries beneath the city, police and priests alike discreetly moved the bones to the renovated section of the tunnel over the period between 1787 and 1814. This relocation process was a massive undertaking, involving the transfer of millions of skeletal remains from the overcrowded cemeteries to the newly established ossuary.
A Tribute to the Unknown
The Catacombs of Paris are an unidentified tribute to millions of unknown, deceased Parisians, full of human femur bones, skeletons, and other bones, heaped in bizarrely elegant, orderly exhibits and recounted by death rhymes and epigrams. Many of the identities of the 6 million Parisians laid in the underground passages have been lost in history, adding to the mystery and intrigue of this macabre site.
Notable Figures Buried in the Catacombs
As some notable people were buried in those “crowded” cemeteries, it is likely that their bones were transferred to the Catacombs as well. Some of the prominent Frenchmen whose bones might be placed in the Catacombs include Charles Perrault (famous for Little Red Riding Hood, Puss in Boots, and Cinderella), Jean de La Fontaine (known for Fables), Simon Vouet (painter), Salomon de Brosse (architect who designed Luxemburg Palace in Paris), and François Girardon (sculptor).
A Turbulent History
The Catacombs have a rich and turbulent history. During the French Revolution, the ossuary was used as a burial site for guillotine martyrs and other victims, including leaders like Robespierre, Lavoisier, and Danton, who were executed in 1794.
Over the years, the Catacombs have also been a site of exploration and discovery. In the 1980s, a movement dedicated to the exploration of the tunnels led to the discovery of a secret cinema and other hidden meeting places, further adding to the mystery and intrigue of this subterranean world.
The Catacombs Today
Today, the Catacombs of Paris are a popular attraction, drawing visitors from around the world to explore this eerie and captivating destination. Despite the additional security measures and bag checks implemented after incidents of vandalism and theft, the Catacombs remain a must-visit destination for those drawn to the macabre and the mysterious.
Conclusion
The Catacombs of Paris are a testament to the rich and complex history of the city, a haunting reminder of the mortality that lies beneath the surface, and a captivating destination for those who seek to uncover the secrets of the past. Whether you are a history buff, a fan of the macabre, or simply curious about the mysteries that lurk beneath the streets of Paris, a visit to the Catacombs is an experience that will leave a lasting impression on your memory.
