12 interesting facts about the Paris Catacombs

Facts

Paris Catacombs facts

Home to over 6 million Parisians

Beneath the streets of Paris lies Paris Catacombs, an underground ossuary filled with the remains (skulls and bones) of over six million Parisians. What started as a cemetery cleanup project in the late 18th century is now a historic landmark attracting 550,000 visitors annually.

World War II hideouts

The Paris Catacombs served multiple groups of people during one of history’s darkest periods–German soldiers established an underground bunker below Lycée Montaigne, a school in the 6th arrondissement, French Jews sort refuge against the Nazis, and members of the French Revolution set up their headquarters and stored weapons and ammunition.

Fully equipped secret cinema

In 2004, the police made a fascinating discovery–a fully functioning cinema setup, fitted with a full-sized screen, projection equipment, and a range of the same kind of perfectly legal movies that you’d find at an overground multiplex. In the adjoining cave was a small restaurant & bar space, complete with tables & chairs, a pressure cooker, and alcohol.

Mysterious swimming pools

The often-flooded and forgotten tunnels of the Paris Catacombs have been an aquatic playground for brave divers for more than 30 years now. Going by the codename Plongeur, the diver is a Parisian cataphile, who has fearlessly ventured into the depths of unchartered galleries, thereby helping the Department of Quarries with a mapping of the tunnels.

Underground wine heist

In 2017, a burglary was reported where thieves stole a collection of exquisite wine from the cellar of an upscale apartment in the 6th arrondissement, near the Luxembourg Gardens. Reports suggested that the thieves gained access to the cellar by drilling through a limestone wall in the Catacombs. They got away with pricey wine, worth €250,000 (£230,000).

Airbnb stunt

In 2015, Airbnb offered a unique experience: a night in the Catacombs. As part of a publicity campaign for Halloween, guests could sleep among the bones, turning the ossuary into perhaps the world's most macabre bedroom for a night. Won by a Brazilian son-mother duo, their stay included a double bed in a candle-lit stone chamber, dinner, a violin concert, and a storyteller to get them in the Halloween spirit.

Tragic tale of 11 years

In 1793, during the French Revolution, a man named Philibert Aspairt, doorman of the Val-de-Grâce hospital entered the Catacombs via a staircase in the hospital’s courtyard. However, this visit ended poorly for him when he lost his way inside, never to get out. His body was found 11 years later, a few meters away from an exit. He was identified by the hospital key ring hanging from his belt and was buried right at that very spot.

Mushroom farming

One of the most peculiar uses of the Catacombs has to be mushroom farming. By the 19th century, when the mining era came to an end, the quarries were abandoned overnight. A chance visit by one of the quarrymen resulted in the discovery of mushrooms growing in the ideal conditions of the underground: dark and humid. That’s how Pairs mushrooms came into existence.

Thieves as tour guides

Back in the 1800s, thieves would pose as tour guides and lure people into the depths of the Catacombs. Once inside, they’d rob them and leave them to find their way out. Today, there’s a thick black line called the lifeline painted along the ceiling to help visitors find their way to the exit when lost without a guide or a map in hand.

Cultural inspiration

The movie As Above, So Below was the first film production to receive permission from the French authorities to film within the Catacombs. The film was shot in documentary style, with a realistic approach to camera and lighting. The actor’s headlamps lighted up many scenes, and overall usage of movie props was limited, within the centuries-old, dark tunnels.

Artistic bone arrangements

The bones in the Catacombs aren't just piled up; they're meticulously arranged into patterns and structures. Skulls and femurs form crosses, hearts, and other shapes, creating a macabre art gallery that reflects reverence and a unique aesthetic sense. A popular arrangement to look out for is The Barrel of Passion.

Construction prohibition

Earlier in the 1700s-1800s, Paris witnessed haphazard and rampant constructions of tall structures, especially around the Catacombs. As they dug deeper, the heavy weight of the building above ground led to multiple cave-ins, leading to catastrophic destructions. Due to this, the French government declared a limitation on the number of tall buildings in the surrounding area of the Catacombs.

Plan your visit to the Catacombs here >

‌
‌
‌