Catacombs Paris

About The Catacombs: The Catacombs is the only underground cemetery in Paris and is built at the site that was previously Roman era limestone quarries. The quarries were transmuted into mass tombs towards the end of the 18th century. The underground graveyard has a number of winding tunnels and innumerable rooms. There are guided tours conducted around 6the underground gravesites for the convenience of the visitors.

History of The Catacombs: The place began to be used as a burial venue from 1786. The health of the city was at stake due to improper burials and the congestion in the churchyards. The authorities decided on removing the remains from these open graveyards and placing them in the dilapidated underground quarries. However, these tunnels and quarries became threatening when they began to cause damage to the buildings above the ground. To prevent such disaster, the government banned the digging of new quarries and ordered a regular maintenance of the old ones. The IGC, accordingly, are monitoring these ancient quarries till date.

Illegal entrances: Today only a section of the Catacombs is open for general visitors and the major area is closed. Guided tours are an absolute necessity, as a person may easily get lost in the complicated network of tunnels. Therefore accessing the place through other means besides the authorized entrances is illegal. However, illegal entrances do take place through various manholes, sewers and even the metro tunnels. However, such adventurous explorations may turn out to be fatal.

References to the Catacombs in fiction, movies and games: The catacombs have been frequently referred to in famous novels and even movies. They occur in Umberto Eco's novel Foucault's Pendulum and also in Edgar Allen Poe's short story The Cask of Amontillado. In the present days, the tunnel is also frequently used in computer games and video games.