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- There Remain Many Mysteries Surrounding Paris's Catacombs
Summary
- The Paris Catacombs are an extensive underground system of pathways and tunnels, with only a small section open to the public.
- The accessible parts of the Catacombs are curated and easy to navigate, while the illegal parts are unmarked and potentially dangerous.
- Despite the dangers, some people break the rules to explore the catacombs, revealing secret parts through photos and videos, and sharing tips and entry points.
There are a lot of catacombs around the world, but the Paris Catacombs are well-known by travelers near and far. Only a little less than two miles is actually open to the public, while the rest of the catacombs go on for over two hundred miles in an underground system of pathways and tunnels. The parts of the Paris Catacombs which are accessible to the public remain manicured, curated, and easy to navigate. A little less than two miles are marked with helpful signs that are visited frequently by tourists every day. The public access site is visited by locals and is one of the famous landmarks in Paris visited by celebrities.
Meanwhile, the illegal parts of the Paris' underground tunnel have been left as is, which are unmarked and potentially dangerous. Some locals are able to enter the catacombs via secret entrances around Paris, which are considered prohibited. Due to the potential danger of these passages, people are discouraged from venturing into Paris' underground tunnels.
However, despite the dangers, the urban legends, and the myths, there will always be people who break the rules to explore the catacombs in their own way. These trespassing explorers have managed to reveal the secret parts of the catacombs through photos and videos they take. They've even mapped or memorized hundreds of entry points, shared tips by word of mouth, or provided visual tips to look out for while walking through the forbidden parts of the catacombs and many creepy mazes.
UPDATE: 2023/07/28 16:38 EST BY NOAH STAATS
There Remain Many Mysteries Surrounding Paris's Catacombs
The Paris Catacombs are filled with remains and never-before-seen sights beneath the streets of France's capital city. Luckily, we've been able to go into this post and add extra information for travelers, as well as give insight into why these came about centuries ago. Remember, this is a place of burial and heartache, so remain as respectful as possible while touring underground.
16 There Are Roughly 6 Million Bodies In The Paris Catacombs
- Six million bodies are said to be in the Paris Catacombs.
An eerie fact to be aware of when looking into the Paris Catacombs is that they store the remains of nearly six million people. At the time, the plague swept through Europe, killing almost entire areas of the population. Catacombs were constructed in Rome and Paris to hold the bodies of the sick and dead, leading to this burial place becoming so expansive and filled to the brim with human bodies/skeletons. At the very root of its design, these catacombs were intended to be kept away from the general public: forever. That can also explain why they're so hard to reach and the legal ramifications of exploring them.
15 The Catacombs In Paris Were Built Following Rome's Version
- Paris's Catacombs were closely based on Rome's.
One of the lesser-known details surrounding the construction of Paris's Catacombs is that they were created with close inspiration from Rome's very own catacomb system. Back in that time, Rome didn't want the plague to spread, resulting in complex underground burial systems being put into place. During the Napoleon Empire, it was decided that the bones would be arranged in a necropolis, following that of Roman Catacombs. This has long been forgotten, as the Romans also used their catacombs as burial grounds for Jewish people: the Christians later on.
Since the remains of nearly six million people lie below the enchanting city of Paris, it's no surprise that these catacombs have played a major role in the city's history. On top of being considered sacred to some and haunted by others, the Paris Catacombs, in their conception, were meant to keep bodies away from the rest of the world. It's a place of deep isolation.
The Paris Catacombs were built, mimicking the Roman version at the time.
14 Some Parts Of It Are Open To The Public, But The Rest Is Off Limits
Approximately 1.5 kilometers of the Paris Catacombs are open to the public by the French authorities. However, once a person catches a glimpse of what the ruins look like beyond the maintained walking paths, there's no going back. Currently, Les Catacombs De Paris offers tours of the creepy maze that run a little less than a mile long, which leaves almost two hundred miles left un-groomed and off-limits tunnel systems inside the maze. Local rule breakers craving adventure have ventured into these prohibited tunnels.
- The entrance to the catacombs that are legally open to the public is from 1 Avenue du Colonel Henri Rol-Tanguy, 75014 Paris, France.
13 Cataphiles Know Their Way Around The Catacombs
- Cataphiles illegally go into the sectioned-off parts of the Paris Catacombs to explore.
Akin to a secret society, the cataphiles are explorers that illegally venture into the secret passages of the Paris Catacombs. Cataphiles are said to know their way around catacombs and are a tight-knit community. In fact, these urban explorers rarely reveal their secret entrances to the catacombs, especially to tourists and outsiders.
There is a €60 ($65) fine for any cataphiles or rogue tourists found lurking in the illegal sections of the catacombs that are regularly patrolled by the E.R.I.C -- a special police force.
12 Some Spots Will Require Maneuvering Since The Ceilings Are Low
- The ceilings are low in the Paris Catacombs, making them tricky to maneuver for taller guests.
Like many intricate mazes, the maze system in the Paris Catacombs is unpredictable due to narrow passageways and tight tunnels. Not only would it be dangerous to go in without a light, but it would also be dang near impossible to go in very far without causing serious injury. Eventually, someone might hit their head on a boulder or rock, knocking them unconscious. This is a big reason why the caves shouldn't be explored alone.
11 The Sheer Magnitude Of Length And Depth Can be Frightening
- These caves go for miles, with them being used for burials for over 300 hundred years.
The Paris Catacombs, otherwise known as "The Empire of Death," are essentially one giant underground burial system to help with the overflow of dead bodies over-crowding the cemeteries of Paris. The city needed a place to lay to rest the remains of over six million people. This would require the Catacombs of Paris to be exceptionally deep and long. The cave goes on for miles and has been used for over 300 hundred years.
10 It's So Deep Underground There's Little To No Noise Pollution
- Because of their location, the Paris Catacombs are very quiet.
Since adventure seekers often travel the Paris Catacombs for miles, some of them find empty passageways to rest and recharge. These hollow rooms, which are being used as resting points in the cave, remain quiet and undisturbed and don't exactly get cell service. So far underground, not even the sounds of the trains can be heard. Secret parties and meetings have been hosted inside the spooky underground tunnels of Paris!
Les UX, short for the Urban eXperiment, is a secret organization that conveys its artistic ideas in underground places. They have allegedly built a cinema for clandestine movie screenings in the closed-off depths of the catacombs.
9 Finding Entry Points Is Half The Adventure Or Just The Beginning
- Many entries to these catacombs exist. Over the years, people have begun entering them illegally from vantage points deemed unsafe by city officials.
There are many words of mouth entry points into the Paris Catacombs, which have now suddenly made their way into online maps and forums. For years, people have shared these same access points with their friends and families, which has increased illegal foot traffic inside the uncharted paths of the underground tomb. Perhaps eventually, these points will be made accessible, but for now, many of them require a little hunting.
8 It's Less Scary In Large Groups With Provisions
- Explorers must wear boots and muted clothing and bring food and their ID.
Traveling deep down inside the Paris Catacombs will require an explorer to take certain precautions. Practical items like sturdy boots, muted clothing, food, and ID are useful for adventurers exploring the catacombs. Headlamps, water, and a first aid kit may also be necessary. When people travel in large groups, they can share the responsibility of bringing these much-needed things. Plus, if someone gets hurt, they can collectively create a plan for getting help.
7 Parts Of It Look Like An Underground Art Gallery
- There are endless amounts of graffiti and art left on the walls of the Paris Catacombs.
Many people have traveled through the Paris Catacombs for years. Some of these people have left their mark on various artworks or graffiti on the walls. Not only are the Catacombs well hidden from the authorities, but then some of the graffiti is meant to help navigate the various tunnels of the tomb or share personal messages. The paintings also seem to add a bit more color and curiosity to the otherwise terrifying darkness.
6 It's Common To Cross Paths With Strangers And Other Groups Of Explorers
- There are 200 people allowed down in the catacombs at once.
The actual designated parts of the Paris Catacombs that are intended for tourists have a maximum capacity for about 200 visitors at a time within the one-mile curated space. However, the underground tunnels are so large, and there are so many different tunnels, pathways, entries, and exits that it isn't surprising to see small traffic jams or crowds of people waiting in hallways to turn into a joining tunnel.
5 It's Super Dangerous And Risky For The Solo Explorer
- Solo travelers often become lost and hurt in the Paris Catacombs.
Nothing seems like it could be worse than getting trapped inside a narrow passageway hundreds of feet underground, but it has happened. The Paris Catacombs are not safe to explore for the solo traveler. There have been instances of people getting lost inside the underground tunnels. That's why it would be best to go with someone who can get help in case something bad happens or just don't go at all.
A doorman named Philibert Aspairt allegedly lost his way when he accidentally entered the tunnels of the catacombs through a hospital's courtyard during the French Revolution. He wasn't found until 11 years later when a group of cataphiles found his remains, sadly, very close to an exit.
4 It's Not Just Damp; Some Places Require Explorers To Walk Through Water
- Because of some of the locations of sections of these catacombs, explorers may run into rooms filled with water.
Since some parts of the Catacombs are exposed to natural cracks in the rocks and underground water systems, they can flood with waist-deep water. There have even been some photos of rooms with tunnels that have turned into full wells. These dark wet rooms require explorers to walk through water to get into the next chambers. Some people turn back at these points, but many rule breakers have continued onward into the dark.
3 For What Its Worth, The Official Entrance To The Catacombs Is Perfectly Fine
- Visiting this location is well worth the price and should last about an hour underground.
Once a guest pays the fee to visit the official Catacombs of Paris, they will quickly discover that the site is a lot of the same. The tour, which lasts about an hour long, is not only enough time, but the clear paths, view of the illuminated water wells, and carved signs in the stone archways make it well worth the visit, and much safer than breaking the laws to travel into the complex cave system.
2 There Are More Than Just Human Remains Inside The Catacombs
- There are many non-human sights to witness while in the Paris Catacombs.
While the catacombs are a cemetery of sorts, there's more than just human remains to be found inside; there are also wells deeper than 45ft. A spiraling staircase leads to one particularly famous well, which has water so clear that it's believed to be practically invisible. This well was considered to be the site of the first geological drilling ever done in Paris.
1 The Catacombs Oddly Attract Swimmers And Scuba Divers
- Because they're water-rich, the Paris Catacombs also welcome swimmers and scuba divers occasionally.
Some parts of the catacombs lie hundreds of feet below the streets of Paris, and considering the fact that these were once limestone quarries, it's no surprise that some tunnels may lead to pools of water. Cataphiles often venture into the unknown depths of the catacombs to map hidden pools for swimming and scuba diving. There's even a short documentary called La Cité Dans La Mer, or The City in the Sea, that documents what it's like to dive into the secret pools of the catacombs of Paris.