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The Paris Catacombs conceal many sinister mysteries. Ossuaries—there’s something inherently terrifying about them, and to many, they rank among the creepiest and most forbidden places on Earth. What could be more frightening than a regular cemetery? Well, a cemetery holding the remains of millions of Parisians, buried beneath the capital of France? Probably that.
For a city renowned for its passion for fashion, love, and culture, Paris harbors a chilling secret deep beneath its streets. These little-known facts about the sprawling Catacombs of Paris will leave you utterly astounded.
10. They Contain the Bones of Over Six Million Parisians
In the 18th century, Paris’s rapidly expanding population outgrew its cemeteries. To make matters worse, improperly buried bodies were causing the spread of disease. As a result, the city's officials decided to close down the cemeteries and relocate the remains to a new resting place.
The authorities turned to the city's vast underground quarries to solve the problem. Between the 1780s and 1814, they successfully relocated over six million bodies beneath the surface of Paris. These remains came from various graveyards across the city and were transported by cart, laid to rest in their final location.
9. They’re Larger Than You Think
Though the remains of six million people are scattered throughout the tunnels, the majority were placed in burial chambers known as ossuaries, where tours are frequently conducted. But these ossuaries are just part of a larger network of tunnels. Parisian quarry workers originally carved out these tunnels before some of them were repurposed as cemeteries.
While it's believed there are about 320 kilometers (200 miles) of tunnels beneath the city, not all of them have been explored, and much of the area remains uncharted. One can’t help but wonder what other secrets might be hidden deep within those tunnels.
8. Explorers Are Turning the Catacombs Into a Hidden Swimming Spot
It seems that a regular trip to the local pool or even borrowing a friend's pool isn’t quite enough for some thrill-seekers. Instead, they venture deep into the Catacombs, where they find secret, unmapped water-filled areas that have become known to fellow cataphiles as spontaneous swimming spots.
Naturally, gaining access to these hidden pools requires some insider knowledge. It’s said that one must navigate through murky, disorienting waters and tight, suffocating tunnels before finally reaching the 'oasis'—a swimming hole tucked away in a vast underground burial ground.
7. Unidentified Groups Have Conducted Secret Activities Down Below
In 2004, during a training exercise in the Catacombs, police stumbled upon something totally unexpected. While investigating a remote section of the tunnels, they uncovered a massive cinema room, complete with a screen, equipment, a restaurant, and a bar—equipped with professionally installed phone and power lines. Even more unsettling was the discovery that a hidden camera had been taking pictures of the officers as they entered the area.
The identity of those responsible remains unknown, but a note was found at the scene that read, 'Do not try and find us.' It may not be the most fitting décor for a cinema and restaurant, but at least the space is being put to some unusual use, right?
6. A Deluge of Corpses
Before the Catacombs took center stage, Les Innocents was Paris' original burial ground, serving as the city's oldest and most frequently used cemetery. However, by the 18th century, the graveyard had become so packed with bodies that it had no room left. This overcrowding led to complaints from residents nearby, who were overwhelmed by the persistent, unbearable stench of death that permeated the air.
Calling it ‘overcrowded’ barely scratches the surface. When a flood breached the cemetery’s boundaries, the buried bodies began to spill out onto the ground. In the 1780s, authorities began exhuming remains from various cemeteries and relocating them to the now infamous Catacombs of Paris. The rest, as they say, is history.
5. Communities of Cataphiles are Flourishing Within the Catacombs
Cataphiles are a unique group of urban explorers who thrive on spending extensive periods within the hidden passages of the Catacombs of Paris. While they might seem like a modern-day cult, they maintain a deep reverence for the deceased and the tunnels themselves. They even create detailed maps to help others navigate the expansive underground labyrinth.
These individuals are insiders, and the secrets of entering the catacombs are guarded closely within this tight-knit community. For years, cataphiles have developed their own underground society within the old quarries and passageways. Some engage in artistic endeavors, others furnish hidden rooms or gather for parties, while some simply seek an escape from the world above.
4. A Notorious Vintage Wine Heist Took Place Here
It turns out that, beyond the bones and decay, there’s also fine wine hidden deep within the catacombs. In 2017, a daring heist brought this fact to light.
A group of French criminals drilled into the limestone walls of the Catacombs, breaching a nearby vault under an apartment that contained 300 bottles of valuable vintage wine. The thieves made off with the entire stash, worth an estimated €250,000.
3. During World War II, both the Axis and Allied forces made use of the Catacombs for strategic purposes.
The Catacombs of Paris, well-known due to their vast underground network, became a strategic location during World War II, with both sides utilizing them. Given their large, hidden expanse, this wasn’t unexpected.
The French Resistance found refuge in the catacombs, using the tunnels to plan operations against the Germans while staying hidden from enemy spies.
What’s more shocking is that the Nazis also had a presence within the Catacombs and built various bunkers (such as one beneath the Lycee Montaigne secondary school.) Traces of this bunker still remain today.
2. Farmers Began Using the Catacombs of Paris to Grow Mushrooms
The practice began in the 19th century, when a Parisian named Monsieur Chambery ventured down into the tunnels and observed a patch of wild mushrooms growing within a chamber. He decided to use the abandoned tunnels to begin growing his own champignon de Paris (aka button mushrooms), a practice which was soon recognized and accepted by the Horticultural Society of Paris.
Soon, farmers from all around flocked down there to begin farms of their own. Mushroom farming in the Catacombs became a thriving business venture. In fact, if you know where to look, you can probably find some farmers still down there, growing mushrooms to their hearts’ content. It does make sense when you consider the darkness and humidity down there. Who knows; the old bones lying around might have acted as some sort of fertilizer for the mushrooms too.
1. The Bones Are Organized into 'Decorative' Arrangements
When the bones of the deceased were first transported into the Catacombs in the 1780s, they were simply placed into the tunnels after a prayer was said to honor the dead. Over time, workers began to arrange the bones into intricate designs, such as hearts, circles, and even lines of skulls, creating a macabre form of decoration in the eerie underground corridors.
One of the most famous arrangements is known as the Barrel. It consists of a large circular pillar made of skulls and tibiae, which also serves as a structural support for the tunnel's ceiling. This grim yet functional display is located in the Crypt of the Passion, also known as the Tibia Rotunda. The Barrel may be a far cry from a traditional support beam, but it certainly serves its purpose.
