Catacombs of Paris

The story behind the Paris Catacombs began in the late 18th century when overflowing Parisian cemeteries caused public health crises. Authorities decided to move millions of bones to former limestone quarries beneath the city. After years of transferring remains and arranging them respectfully, the ossuary was consecrated in 1786. Initially a solution to a health crisis, it evolved into a memorial and later became a popular tourist attraction, showcasing the city's innovative response to urban challenges and its ongoing fascination with death and the past. The problem of overflowing cemeteries became critical in 1780 when a wall of the largest cemetery, Saints-Innocents, collapsed, spilling rotting corpses into the streets.

In 2004, during a training exercise, Paris police discovered a hidden, fully equipped underground cinema beneath the city's Catacombs. This clandestine setup included a bar, restaurant, projection equipment, and films. Authorities attributed the sophisticated operation to the secretive urban exploration collective Les UX. When police returned three days later, the entire cinema had been removed, leaving only a note that read 'Do not search'.

Bones are in the Paris Catacombs because they were used as an ossuary to solve Paris's cemetery overcrowding problem in the late 18th and 19th centuries. Between 1786 and the mid-19th century, remains from city cemeteries were transferred at night to the abandoned underground limestone quarries where they were organized into walls and patterns. In the 18th century, cemeteries in Paris were overflowing with burials, leading to poor hygiene and the spread of disease. The situation became so bad that, in 1780, heavy rains caused collapses in the Saint-Innocents cemetery, disturbing bodies and spreading illness throughout the city.

A widely circulated online post stated that explorers found the body of a local student named Masha. It is believed she had wandered into the Catacombs of Paris with friends on New Year's Eve in 2005 after drinking.

To best prepare for your visit to the Catacombs of Paris, it is recommended to book your tickets in advance, especially during peak season, as queues can be very long. Wear comfortable walking shoes as you will be on your feet for the duration of the tour. The temperature underground is consistently cool, so bring a light jacket. Be prepared for narrow passages and stairs, and remember that photography is often restricted in certain areas.