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See Also
See Again
© Getty Images
0 / 30 Fotos
Catacombs of Paris
- As Paris’s cemeteries became overcrowded in the late 18th century, many people began questioning where the dead could be buried. The solution became clear: they could be buried in the vast network of underground tunnels and rooms beneath Paris that were initially limestone quarries.
© Getty Images
1 / 30 Fotos
Collapse
- Before the decision was made to bury the dead here, the quarry network (pictured) was unstable and at risk of collapse. In 1774, a sinkhole appeared on a street in the middle of Paris and engulfed a series of houses.
© Getty Images
2 / 30 Fotos
A new home
- Many other sinkholes appeared over the years, until King Louis XVI (pictured) ordered new cemeteries to be built outside of Paris. The overcrowded cemeteries were ultimately condemned, the bodies exhumed, and then transferred to the catacombs that were inspired by those found in Rome.
© Getty Images
3 / 30 Fotos
Mass relocation
- Between 1786 and 1788, millions of bones were transferred to the catacombs from various cemeteries, including the infamous Holy Innocents' Cemetery (pictured). This mass relocation turned the catacombs into the world's largest grave, holding the remains of over six million people.
© Getty Images
4 / 30 Fotos
A world below
- The tunnels of the catacombs stretch nearly 200 miles (322 km), although much of it is strictly off-limits. However, that doesn’t always stop urban explorers who can’t resist the temptation of the tomb.
© Getty Images
5 / 30 Fotos
Tourist attraction
- The Paris Catacombs have been open to the public as a macabre tourist attraction since 1809, but for security purposes, the official tour covers only a small section of the vast network.
© Getty Images
6 / 30 Fotos
Entrance
- The main entrance to the catacombs is located in the 14th arrondissement of Paris, while the catacombs lie nearly a mile belowground. The entrance to the underground necropolis is actually marked with the words: “Arrête! C’est ici l’empire de la mort—Halt! This is the empire of death.”
© Getty Images
7 / 30 Fotos
Famous inscriptions
- Throughout the catacombs, visitors can encounter various inscriptions and carvings on the walls that include poems, reflections on mortality, and reminders of the fragility of life.
© Getty Images
8 / 30 Fotos
Artistic arrangements
- Bones and skulls are arranged in artistic patterns, such as hearts and crosses, making the catacombs not just a resting place but also a gallery of macabre art. These arrangements were designed to respect and honor the dead.
© Getty Images
9 / 30 Fotos
The Bone Room
- One of the most famous sections is the "Crypt of the Sepulchral Lamp," or the "Bone Room," where bones are stacked from the floor to the ceiling.
© Getty Images
10 / 30 Fotos
World War II
- During World War II, the catacombs played a strategic role. The French Resistance used them as a hideout and base of operations, while the Nazis also established underground bunkers within the catacombs.
© Getty Images
11 / 30 Fotos
Urban exploration
- Urban explorers, known as "cataphiles," often venture illegally into the off-limits sections of the catacombs so that they can map unexplored areas, host secret parties, and even create art installations in the dark tunnels.
© Getty Images
12 / 30 Fotos
Art and graffiti
- Beyond bones, the catacombs are also a canvas for graffiti and modern art. Urban explorers and artists are always trying to leave their marks in the labyrinth. It creates a truly strange blend of the ancient and contemporary.
© Getty Images
13 / 30 Fotos
Urban legends
- Some urban legends claim that those who venture too deep into the catacombs risk becoming lost forever. These stories, whether true or exaggerated, contribute to the mystique and cautionary allure surrounding this world beneath Paris.
© Getty Images
14 / 30 Fotos
Cinematic appearances
- The catacombs have also been featured in various films, including horror and adventure genres. It can be argued that the eerie ambiance and labyrinthine layout make them an ideal setting for suspenseful and thrilling stories.
© Getty Images
15 / 30 Fotos
Death
- The catacombs serve as a powerful reminder of death and the passage of time. The stark display of human remains encourages reflection on mortality, the impermanence of life, and the legacy we leave behind.
© Getty Images
16 / 30 Fotos
Métro marvel
- The catacombs aren’t the only tunnels that can be found beneath the metropolis of Paris. Indeed, the Métropolitain subway network has been a crucial part of Parisian life since the first line was opened in 1900.
© Getty Images
17 / 30 Fotos
Architectural design
- The Métro's architecture is iconic, with Art Nouveau entrances designed by Hector Guimard. These entrances, with their distinctive green arches and ornate lettering, are a hallmark of Parisian design.
© Getty Images
18 / 30 Fotos
Arts et Métiers station
- Even the copper-lined Arts et Métiers station resembles the inside of a submarine, as if it was pulled straight out of Jules Verne’s ‘Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea.’
© Getty Images
19 / 30 Fotos
Ghost station
- Nestled along the Métro route is also the ghost station of Saint-Martin, which has fallen to disuse and graffiti since the station was closed in 2008. Interestingly, the station has been home to bees since the 1980s.
© Getty Images
20 / 30 Fotos
Sewer stories
- The sewer is also one of the many worlds that can be found lurking under Paris. During the Universal Exhibition in 1867, visitors often frequented the sewers in boats due to some morbid fascination.
© Getty Images
21 / 30 Fotos
Death as inspiration
- The streets of Paris were once filled with sewage, but after a six-month cholera epidemic claimed the lives of some 19,000 Parisians in 1832, a modernization program was launched to transform Paris’s sewer system into the ordered assemblage it is today.
© Getty Images
22 / 30 Fotos
In literature
- Even the famous French writer Victor Hugo mentioned the sewers in his 1862 novel ‘Les Misérables.’ He spoke of the sewers as a Paris beneath Paris, and the book’s hero also flees his nemesis through the winding passageways that have historically been used by real-life criminals.
© Getty Images
23 / 30 Fotos
A lengthy system
- The Parisian sewers extend for 1,662 miles (2,675 km), which is the equivalent of making two round trips between Paris and Marseille.
© Getty Images
24 / 30 Fotos
Engineering marvel
- The sewers are considered an engineering marvel, featuring vaulted ceilings, large pipelines, and a system that allows for efficient wastewater management. The design also facilitates maintenance and inspection.
© Getty Images
25 / 30 Fotos
Tourist attraction
- Part of the sewer system is open to the public through the Paris Sewer Museum (Musée des Égouts de Paris). Visitors can explore this underground world and learn about the history and functionality of the sewers.
© Getty Images
26 / 30 Fotos
Flood prevention
- The sewers play a crucial role in preventing floods by channeling rainwater away from the streets and into the Seine. This system helps protect the city from water damage during heavy rains.
© Getty Images
27 / 30 Fotos
Unique ecosystem
- The underground world of Paris hosts a unique ecosystem, with some sections teeming with life adapted to the dark, humid conditions. Researchers have discovered rare fungi and bacteria that contribute to the biological diversity of these underground caverns.
© Getty Images
28 / 30 Fotos
Ongoing efforts
- Many efforts have been made to preserve the catacombs, subway, and sewer systems, although this is an ongoing challenge. Sources: (National Geographic) (History.com) (The Paris Pass) (Les Catacombes de Paris)
© Getty Images
29 / 30 Fotos
© Getty Images
0 / 30 Fotos
Catacombs of Paris
- As Paris’s cemeteries became overcrowded in the late 18th century, many people began questioning where the dead could be buried. The solution became clear: they could be buried in the vast network of underground tunnels and rooms beneath Paris that were initially limestone quarries.
© Getty Images
1 / 30 Fotos
Collapse
- Before the decision was made to bury the dead here, the quarry network (pictured) was unstable and at risk of collapse. In 1774, a sinkhole appeared on a street in the middle of Paris and engulfed a series of houses.
© Getty Images
2 / 30 Fotos
A new home
- Many other sinkholes appeared over the years, until King Louis XVI (pictured) ordered new cemeteries to be built outside of Paris. The overcrowded cemeteries were ultimately condemned, the bodies exhumed, and then transferred to the catacombs that were inspired by those found in Rome.
© Getty Images
3 / 30 Fotos
Mass relocation
- Between 1786 and 1788, millions of bones were transferred to the catacombs from various cemeteries, including the infamous Holy Innocents' Cemetery (pictured). This mass relocation turned the catacombs into the world's largest grave, holding the remains of over six million people.
© Getty Images
4 / 30 Fotos
A world below
- The tunnels of the catacombs stretch nearly 200 miles (322 km), although much of it is strictly off-limits. However, that doesn’t always stop urban explorers who can’t resist the temptation of the tomb.
© Getty Images
5 / 30 Fotos
Tourist attraction
- The Paris Catacombs have been open to the public as a macabre tourist attraction since 1809, but for security purposes, the official tour covers only a small section of the vast network.
© Getty Images
6 / 30 Fotos
Entrance
- The main entrance to the catacombs is located in the 14th arrondissement of Paris, while the catacombs lie nearly a mile belowground. The entrance to the underground necropolis is actually marked with the words: “Arrête! C’est ici l’empire de la mort—Halt! This is the empire of death.”
© Getty Images
7 / 30 Fotos
Famous inscriptions
- Throughout the catacombs, visitors can encounter various inscriptions and carvings on the walls that include poems, reflections on mortality, and reminders of the fragility of life.
© Getty Images
8 / 30 Fotos
Artistic arrangements
- Bones and skulls are arranged in artistic patterns, such as hearts and crosses, making the catacombs not just a resting place but also a gallery of macabre art. These arrangements were designed to respect and honor the dead.
© Getty Images
9 / 30 Fotos
The Bone Room
- One of the most famous sections is the "Crypt of the Sepulchral Lamp," or the "Bone Room," where bones are stacked from the floor to the ceiling.
© Getty Images
10 / 30 Fotos
World War II
- During World War II, the catacombs played a strategic role. The French Resistance used them as a hideout and base of operations, while the Nazis also established underground bunkers within the catacombs.
© Getty Images
11 / 30 Fotos
Urban exploration
- Urban explorers, known as "cataphiles," often venture illegally into the off-limits sections of the catacombs so that they can map unexplored areas, host secret parties, and even create art installations in the dark tunnels.
© Getty Images
12 / 30 Fotos
Art and graffiti
- Beyond bones, the catacombs are also a canvas for graffiti and modern art. Urban explorers and artists are always trying to leave their marks in the labyrinth. It creates a truly strange blend of the ancient and contemporary.
© Getty Images
13 / 30 Fotos
Urban legends
- Some urban legends claim that those who venture too deep into the catacombs risk becoming lost forever. These stories, whether true or exaggerated, contribute to the mystique and cautionary allure surrounding this world beneath Paris.
© Getty Images
14 / 30 Fotos
Cinematic appearances
- The catacombs have also been featured in various films, including horror and adventure genres. It can be argued that the eerie ambiance and labyrinthine layout make them an ideal setting for suspenseful and thrilling stories.
© Getty Images
15 / 30 Fotos
Death
- The catacombs serve as a powerful reminder of death and the passage of time. The stark display of human remains encourages reflection on mortality, the impermanence of life, and the legacy we leave behind.
© Getty Images
16 / 30 Fotos
Métro marvel
- The catacombs aren’t the only tunnels that can be found beneath the metropolis of Paris. Indeed, the Métropolitain subway network has been a crucial part of Parisian life since the first line was opened in 1900.
© Getty Images
17 / 30 Fotos
Architectural design
- The Métro's architecture is iconic, with Art Nouveau entrances designed by Hector Guimard. These entrances, with their distinctive green arches and ornate lettering, are a hallmark of Parisian design.
© Getty Images
18 / 30 Fotos
Arts et Métiers station
- Even the copper-lined Arts et Métiers station resembles the inside of a submarine, as if it was pulled straight out of Jules Verne’s ‘Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea.’
© Getty Images
19 / 30 Fotos
Ghost station
- Nestled along the Métro route is also the ghost station of Saint-Martin, which has fallen to disuse and graffiti since the station was closed in 2008. Interestingly, the station has been home to bees since the 1980s.
© Getty Images
20 / 30 Fotos
Sewer stories
- The sewer is also one of the many worlds that can be found lurking under Paris. During the Universal Exhibition in 1867, visitors often frequented the sewers in boats due to some morbid fascination.
© Getty Images
21 / 30 Fotos
Death as inspiration
- The streets of Paris were once filled with sewage, but after a six-month cholera epidemic claimed the lives of some 19,000 Parisians in 1832, a modernization program was launched to transform Paris’s sewer system into the ordered assemblage it is today.
© Getty Images
22 / 30 Fotos
In literature
- Even the famous French writer Victor Hugo mentioned the sewers in his 1862 novel ‘Les Misérables.’ He spoke of the sewers as a Paris beneath Paris, and the book’s hero also flees his nemesis through the winding passageways that have historically been used by real-life criminals.
© Getty Images
23 / 30 Fotos
A lengthy system
- The Parisian sewers extend for 1,662 miles (2,675 km), which is the equivalent of making two round trips between Paris and Marseille.
© Getty Images
24 / 30 Fotos
Engineering marvel
- The sewers are considered an engineering marvel, featuring vaulted ceilings, large pipelines, and a system that allows for efficient wastewater management. The design also facilitates maintenance and inspection.
© Getty Images
25 / 30 Fotos
Tourist attraction
- Part of the sewer system is open to the public through the Paris Sewer Museum (Musée des Égouts de Paris). Visitors can explore this underground world and learn about the history and functionality of the sewers.
© Getty Images
26 / 30 Fotos
Flood prevention
- The sewers play a crucial role in preventing floods by channeling rainwater away from the streets and into the Seine. This system helps protect the city from water damage during heavy rains.
© Getty Images
27 / 30 Fotos
Unique ecosystem
- The underground world of Paris hosts a unique ecosystem, with some sections teeming with life adapted to the dark, humid conditions. Researchers have discovered rare fungi and bacteria that contribute to the biological diversity of these underground caverns.
© Getty Images
28 / 30 Fotos
Ongoing efforts
- Many efforts have been made to preserve the catacombs, subway, and sewer systems, although this is an ongoing challenge. Sources: (National Geographic) (History.com) (The Paris Pass) (Les Catacombes de Paris)
© Getty Images
29 / 30 Fotos
The secret underground world of Paris
Explore the city that’s nestled beneath the city
© Getty Images
It's a rather ironic juxtaposition that the City of Life sits on top of a city of death and darkness. The French capital of Paris is a thriving metropolis of culture and history, but the catacombs that stretch in a labyrinth beneath the city are a testament to the macabre side of that culture and history.
Curious? Click through this gallery to see what exactly lies beneath the streets of Paris.
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