Bonjour, mes amis! Today I’m going to tell you about one of the most fascinating and spooky places in the world: the Paris Catacombs. This is a network of tunnels and chambers under the city of Paris, where millions of human bones and skulls are stored. Sounds creepy, right? Well, it’s also a fascinating piece of history and culture that you should know about. Let me explain.
The Paris Catacombs were created in the late 18th century, when the city was facing a problem of overcrowded cemeteries. The graves were so full that they were causing health and environmental issues, such as spreading diseases and contaminating the water supply. The authorities decided to move the bones of the dead to an underground quarry that had been abandoned since the Roman times. The quarry was located under the southern part of the city, and had a network of tunnels and galleries that stretched for hundreds of kilometers.
The transfer of the bones began in 1786 and lasted until 1860. The bones were transported at night, in carts covered with black cloth, accompanied by priests who sang prayers along the way. The bones were dumped into the tunnels and piled up in heaps, without any order or respect. The catacombs were not meant to be a tourist attraction, but a practical solution to a sanitary problem.
However, some people started to visit the catacombs out of curiosity or for other reasons. Some were artists, writers, or philosophers who sought inspiration or solitude in the dark and silent corridors. Some were thrill-seekers, adventurers, or criminals who wanted to explore the hidden secrets of the underground world. Some were revolutionaries, who used the catacombs as a hiding place or a meeting point during the turbulent times of the French Revolution and the Paris Commune.
The catacombs also attracted some official visitors, such as Napoleon III and his son, who toured the catacombs in 1860. In 1874, the catacombs were opened to the public for the first time, but only on special occasions and with limited access. In 1955, the catacombs became a permanent museum, under the supervision of the Ministry of Culture. Today, you can visit a small section of the catacombs, about 2 kilometers long, where you can see some of the most impressive and artistic arrangements of bones and skulls.
The Paris Catacombs are not for the faint-hearted. You have to descend 131 steps to reach the entrance, and then walk through narrow and damp passages that are sometimes only 1.8 meters high. You will see signs that warn you: “Stop! This is the empire of death!” or “Remember that you will die”. You will see walls and pillars made of bones and skulls, some with inscriptions or decorations. You will see crosses, altars, sculptures, and monuments made of bones. You will see bones from different periods and places, such as from the French Revolution, from World War II, from ancient Egypt, from Africa, from Asia. You will see bones from different people, such as nobles, peasants, soldiers, priests, children.
The Paris Catacombs are a unique and unforgettable experience that will make you reflect on life and death, on history and culture, on art and beauty. They are also a testimony to the resilience and creativity of humanity, that can transform something gruesome into something sublime.
I hope you enjoyed this blog post about the Paris Catacombs. If you ever visit Paris, I highly recommend you to check them out. But be careful: don’t get lost in the maze of bones!
Au revoir!
