And again we are glad to welcome all sincere lovers of the fascinating world of travel! Today we have to go to an unusual place, which can hardly be called a bright landmark or a masterpiece of architecture. And although the end point of our journey is in the very center of beautiful France, the main impression that awaits us all will be a slight feeling of fear. Welcome to the underworld of Paris, to the catacombs.
Why you should visit the catacombs
That's the question you'll all be asking yourself, puzzling over why we should visit this creepy place, about which some of us have heard quite a few scary stories. The thing is that the Parisian catacombs are of both historical and purely tourist interest. Many of us remember the terrible stories that our older comrades told us, sitting at the fire in the twilight, what fear the intricate, but absurdly stupid plots inspired! We grew up and treat these pages of our childhood history with humor for a long time. But the places about which there are many legends and scary stories for adults really exist, and the catacombs in Paris are a clear confirmation of this. So, gather all your courage and go for new, vivid impressions!
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Story
The word “catacombs” evokes thoughts of underground fortifications in which one could wait out a war, natural disaster or any other catastrophe. But the Parisian catacombs had a different purpose. According to the sources, one of the first underground parts called the “Cemetery of the Innocents” appeared under the quarters of modern Paris back in the 11th century. It was here that those who died during the events on the well-known Bartholomew night found their last refuge. Next to the dead lie the remains of the victims of the bubonic plague that once raged throughout Europe.
According to the most conservative estimates, more than 2 million people are forever buried under the French capital. As you understand, such a crazy accumulation of bodies that were carriers of various infections could not have been in vain. Soon, local rulers recognized the monstrous danger from the Necropolis and forbade burials within the boundaries of Paris.
It was in the 17th century, when the said ban came out, that another part of the modern catacombs appeared – the Ossaurium. It was founded in the old quarry of Tomb-Issoire. The dead and the dead after certain disinfection measures were taken out and stored at a depth of 17 meters. Bones and skulls were sorted, stacked on top of each other. Therefore, even today you can see one of the most terrible, and at the same time unique creations – a real wall of human remains. The second name of Ossauria is the City of Darkness. Today it covers an area of more than 780 meters and consists of several galleries. Each of them contains identical “exhibits” – the remains of people who once lived on French soil.
Later, after the German troops occupied France, it was in the catacombs that numerous partisan detachments hid.
Underworld today
Today, the Parisian catacombs are represented by a whole network of winding tunnels. Basically, these narrow underground corridors appeared due to local miners of limestone and other rocks that were used in the construction of palaces and cathedrals. It is impossible to accurately determine the length of all corridors and at least the approximate area occupied by the catacombs. According to some estimates, the total length of the tunnels is at least 190-300 km, and the underground area, which is united by “galleries” and grottoes, exceeds 11 thousand square meters.
Although today citizens are no longer buried here, the approximate number of people who have found eternal rest here is more than 6 million.
Creepy, isn't it? But with all this, despite the horrors and unconfirmed legends that go about this place, thousands of tourists from all over the world come to see the underground city of France and touch the wonderful world of the Necropolis every year. The average number of visitors reaches 160 thousand annually.
What can be seen in the catacombs
If you're ready to touch history and visit perhaps the spookiest place in France, then let's get acquainted with what awaits us. It would be wrong to think that apart from bones and pitch darkness, the catacombs of Paris cannot surprise anyone else. In addition to the remains of the dead, there are many monuments and unusual exhibits underground. The walls are decorated with drawings, among which one can clearly distinguish the pen of contemporaries. Here you can see the only landmark, thanks to which the workers could find their way in the depths of the quarry. This is the so-called “black line” or “Ariadne's thread”. After all, electricity was brought here not so long ago.
Although the catacombs boast an impressive history, many of the galleries and tunnels have not changed at all since the time dozens of workers passed through them every day. In one of the central galleries you can see a real well from which limestone was mined. How many tons of this rock were lifted up and laid in the basis of royal palaces – do not count!
At a depth of several meters>
As soon as you step into this realm of shadows and the dead, you feel how creepy such places can be. It seems that the air was filled with lead, and the gloomy walls forever remained the only witnesses of those terrible events. Only they alone know how many bodies are actually buried here, how much torment and fear people endured before they got into this real kingdom of the dead. A mesmerizing and creepy sight!
Eternal dampness and a constant feeling of colossal pressure, which is exerted by more than 20 meters of earth above the heads of visitors. Here it is the real kingdom of Hades, about which so many legends are composed among the Hellenes. Surely, thousands of restless souls ended up forever in this cramped, enclosed space.
How to get into the catacombs
Getting into the catacombs near Paris today is not difficult. Access to this underground attraction is free and is limited to a small labyrinth. The rest of the underground tunnels are not accessible to tourists. Such a ban is associated with the necessary security measures, because getting lost underground is not so difficult, it is much more difficult to get out. There were cases when fans of unusual extreme sports made their way into the catacombs secretly and disappeared without a trace.
If you want to visit the catacombs, the first thing you should go to is the Dunfert-Rochereau metro station. It is near it that there is a pavilion for entering the underground labyrinths. Today, 2.5 kilometers of underground tunnels are available for tourist walks. Moreover, there is a list of places where it is strictly forbidden to be. Otherwise, you will have to deal with the police. In 1980, special police squads were formed to monitor tourists and respond to violations of the above prohibitions.
Of course, it is not uncommon for lovers of unusual adventures to still penetrate the restricted areas. According to some of them, the catacombs are quite easy to get into if you know their location. For example, an inconspicuous manhole or a secluded niche at a metro station can be a real door to the underworld.
The catacombs are located at: 1, avenue du Colonel Henri Rol-Tanguy.
Opening hours: open Tuesday-Sunday from 10.00 to 17.00.
Ticket price – 8-10 euros for adults, free for children under 14 years old. Independent visits are prohibited, only as part of an excursion group.
Unusual facts
I bring to your attention some interesting facts and historical events that are directly related to the Parisian catacombs. They will help you learn more about unusual underground tunnels and show off your knowledge among your friends when you find yourself in this unusual and amazing place together.
So, in 1878, the world exhibition was held in Paris. In addition to the fact that everyone could enjoy the amazing and rare masterpieces of art, they became the first visitors to the Catacombs cafe, which is located in the underground tunnels of Chaillot.
If you have read the famous Frenchman Victor Hugo's novel called Les Misérables, you will probably be interested to know that in the plot he used the knowledge he received while studying the underground labyrinths.
As mentioned earlier, during the Second World War, the underground tunnels of Paris were actively used by representatives of the partisan movement. Since the invaders were afraid of terrible labyrinths and did not dare to go in search of citizens who resisted the Nazi regime, in 1944 it was the underground part of the capital that was chosen as their headquarters. At the same time, as historical documents testify, there were only 500 meters from the headquarters of the partisans to the main Nazi bunker!
One of the most favorite ingredients of French cuisine – champignons – is grown in the dungeon. The damp climate allows you to get an excellent harvest of these mushrooms.
In addition, during the years of the “cold” confrontation between the USSR and the USA, some galleries of the catacombs were equipped as bomb shelters.
Use the services of kiwitaxi and at the airport, at the specified time, the driver will be waiting for you, help with luggage and promptly take you to the hotel. Several classes of cars are available – from economy to Minibus with 19 seats. The price is fixed and does not depend on the number of passengers and the address within Paris. Taxi from / to the airport is a convenient and comfortable way to get to the right place.
Catacombs of Paris on the map
This is such an unusual and unique place in nature, which is worth a visit for every thrill-seeker.