The visit to the Catacombs is certainly one of the most unusual tourist attractions in Paris. It’s where curious individuals, history enthusiasts, and those intrigued by the mystical come together – tourists and “cataphiles” alike. But what is the origin of these mysterious labyrinths? Why are human bones artistically arranged within them? And who is responsible for maintaining these kilometers of buried galleries? To prepare for your visit to the Catacombs of Paris, explore without delay the fascinating history of one of the world’s largest underground ossuaries!
From Origins to the Construction of the Catacombs of Paris
Paris was constructed 20 meters above extensive limestone galleries. From the Gallo-Roman era to the 18th century, Parisians utilized the underground rocks to build the city. Through continuous construction and sediment extraction from the Earth, the foundations weakened, and the ground became fragile.
In 1774, a serious collapse occurred on Rue Denfert-Rochereau, which was engulfed for nearly 300 meters. On September 15, 1776, Louis XVI established a decree prohibiting any further extraction of materials beneath public roads.
Following this, a brilliant idea emerged from the engineer and inspector general of quarries, Charles-Axel Guillaumot, in April 1777. He proposed consolidating and developing the underground areas.
Later, in response to Paris’s unsanitary conditions caused by overcrowded cemeteries, authorities decided to relocate the remains of millions of bodies to an isolated area. The ancient quarries of Tombe-Issoire beneath the plain of Montrouge were chosen due to their accessibility. These quarries had been exploited since at least the 15th century before being completely abandoned.
The transfer of remains began in late 1785. The first bodies’ remains were transported at night from the cemetery of Saints-Innocents (permanently closed in 1780) to the Tombe-Issoire quarries. To honor the memory of the deceased and appease the Church’s concerns, a religious ritual was established throughout the movement. Between 1787 and 1814, parish cemeteries were successively emptied, culminating in 1860 during Haussmann’s urban planning works.
Through an extraction well located beneath 21 Avenue Jean Coty, armies poured and piled millions of bones. Then, between 1810 and 1814, Inspector Héricart de Thury oversaw the ossuary’s arrangement. He inaugurated a unique museum adorned with steles and engravings inspired by Greek and Egyptian styles.
Historical figures interred in the Catacombs of Paris
As Parisian cemeteries choked under the weight of remains, becoming a genuine health hazard for the city, millions of bodies were transported into the Catacombs. Countless unknown individuals and historical personalities were piled in the depths of the capital. Here is a non-exhaustive list of some figures interred in the “ossuary of celebrities”:
- François Rabelais (1494-1553), a French writer and humanist.
- Jean de la Fontaine (1621-1695), a French poet and fabulist.
- Charles Perrault (1628-1703), a well-known French writer for his fairy tales.
- René Descartes (1596-1650), a French philosopher, mathematician, and scientist.
- Voltaire, originally François-Marie Arouet (1694-1778), a French writer and philosopher.
Numerous lesser-known individuals are undoubtedly anonymously buried within the Catacombs of Paris.
The opaque playground of curious investigators
Héricart de Thury already envisioned his museum as a large-scale cabinet of curiosities. Upon its reorganization, he divided the space into two areas: one dedicated to mineralogy and the other to pathology.
Thus, thanks to the insights of Dr. Michel-Augustin de Touret in 1789, one could observe the consequences of certain diseases on human skeletal structures.
The National Museum of Natural History quickly became interested in what these underground spaces could teach. Jacques Mahé, a botanist, studied the flora in these dark environments, and Armand Viré, a speleologist and naturalist, discovered the existence of cave-dwelling crustaceans.
In 1813, Héricart de Thury introduced four fish into the basin of the Samaritaine fountain. Deprived of daylight and far from a fairy tale, they survived but became blind and never reproduced.
It was in the Catacombs of Paris, in 1886, that Félix Tournachon, nicknamed Nadar, a pioneer in aerial photography, experimented with the first shots using artificial light.
The Strategic Role of the Catacombs in French History
The Catacombs During the Time of the French Revolution
During the period of the Reign of Terror, some revolutionaries used the underground quarries to escape persecution or authorities.
In this tumultuous era, the Catacombs witnessed significant events. In 1792, the princess of Lamballe was brutally executed for her loyalty to her friend Marie-Antoinette.
It was within the Catacombs that revolutionary groups such as the Jacobin Club and the Sans-culottes would meet to organize secret meetings and clandestine political gatherings.
The Catacombs During World War II
French Resistance groups like the Francs-tireurs et partisans (FTP) utilized the tunnels of the Catacombs to discreetly gather information, store weapons, and conduct sabotage activities against the Nazi occupation.
The kilometers of underground galleries provided a means for thousands of Jews and persecuted individuals to escape raids and deportations to concentration camps.
Later, during the liberation of the city in 1944, the Parisian underground witnessed intense battles between resistance fighters and German soldiers.
The Catacombs Open Their Doors to the Public and Become a Premier Tourist Destination
It was in 1809, during the reign of Napoleon Bonaparte, that the Catacombs were opened to the public for the first time.
Initially, only a small portion of the galleries was accessible, but even that was enough to leave visitors speechless.
A year later, a special commission was created to ensure visitor safety and oversee larger-scale excursions.
In 1860, efforts were undertaken to modernize the site, improving access and lighting.
In 1900, the Paris Universal Exposition showcased an archaeological collection in the Catacombs’ underground chambers.
Later, in the 20th century, due to the significant influx of national and international visitors, new entrances, staircases, and walkways were constructed to facilitate and enhance the safety of the tours.
Maintenance and Operation of the Underground Spaces Today
Preserving the archaeological, geological, and historical heritage, ensuring visitor safety, and showcasing the site’s value requires the collaboration of various specialists. Here’s a sample of the professionals involved:
- Department of Funerary Affairs: The City of Paris’s Funerary Affairs department oversees the maintenance of the Catacombs, the preservation of the ossuary, the conservation of the galleries, and visitor safety.
- Specialized Professionals: Skilled professionals regularly maintain the site, performing tasks such as maintenance, repairs, and monitoring of the Catacombs.
- “Catacombes de Paris”: This public local company operates the site as a tourist attraction. They handle visitor reception, ticketing, and site security.
- Qualified Guides: Knowledgeable guides share their expertise and the dark history of the Catacombs with visitors over time.
- Infrastructure Restrictions and Monitoring: Stringent regulations and monitoring of the infrastructure are in place to ensure the historical legacy for future generations.
- Integration with Musée Carnavalet: To ensure the site’s continued enhancement, the Catacombs were integrated into the Carnavalet Museum in 2002. New exits and a bookstore-boutique were inaugurated in 2017, and a new entrance and a mediation space (Pavillon Ledoux) in 2019.
The collaboration of these specialists ensures that the Catacombs are not only preserved but also presented in a way that highlights their historical and cultural significance, while also providing a safe and enriching experience for visitors.
Myths and Legends in the Parisian Underground
Hundreds of kilometers of hidden galleries off-limits to the public inevitably give rise to fabrications and fuel the most fantastical speculations. The so-called forbidden doors evoke the wildest theories about buried secrets and esoteric legends.
Such is the nature of the mission of the “cataphiles,” individuals who are dedicated to uncovering secret passages or unexplored tunnels. Some are determined to uncover hypothetical and legendary hidden treasures.
Twenty meters below the city, these shadowy places have a reputation for hosting occult rituals and clandestine ceremonies.
Moreover, paranormal phenomena have given the Catacombs a reputation for being haunted. Some claim to have seen apparitions, heard strange noises, or experienced supernatural occurrences within them. It’s not surprising in a place where even the name sends shivers down your spine!
All these legends and rumors have fed into each other over time, with no historical evidence to substantiate their existence. Nevertheless, these stories add even more mystery to these endless dark labyrinths.