The Parisian catacombs have long been the object of close attention both from local residents and from the side of numerous travelers. What attracts such a huge number of visitors every year? As a rule, this is a desire to get acquainted with the history of a great city. Although it's no secret that sometimes extreme or adventure seekers go to the Parisian catacombs. These places are actually shrouded in mystery and mystery, and it will take years and years of research to answer many questions.
This article is aimed at telling about such an interesting and rather unknown object of the French capital as the underground city of the dead. The reader will learn details that, as a rule, even the most experienced guides do not tell tourists about.
Section 1. General Description
The catacombs stretching under the capital of France are a system of tunnels that appeared under the city in the distant past.
Mysterious underground galleries have a length of more than three hundred kilometers. Historians believe that ancient quarries originated inthe result of the extraction of materials necessary for the construction of palaces and cathedrals in the city during the Middle Ages. Later, the dungeon became a grave for many people and turned into a huge cemetery. The number of Parisians buried here exceeds the current population of the French capital.
Even during antiquity, the Romans mined limestone in these places, but the mines were of an open type. Gradually, with the growth of the city, the number of such manufactories also increased. The main part of the tunnels appeared during the time of the French king Philip Augustus, who ruled in 1180-1223, when limestone was used to build protective ramparts.
Section 2. Parisian catacombs. Origin History
The total area of underground tunnels formed during the development of limestone is approximately 11 thousand square meters. m.
The first underground limestone mining began under Louis XI, who for this gave the land of the castle of Vauvert. During the Renaissance, the districts of Paris grew rapidly, and by the 17th century. underground Parisian catacombs, photos of which can now be found in almost all guidebooks dedicated to the French capital, ended up in the city, which led to the risk of soil failures in the streets.
In 1777, King Louis XVI established an inspection to check the quarries, which is still active today. For 200 years, the employees of this institution have been working to strengthen and prevent collapses in the dungeon. Many mines have been filled with concrete, but the fortifications are gradually being eroded by the groundwater of the Seine, andthe risk of collapses remains.
Section 3. Brief historical background
The history of the Parisian catacombs is directly related to the life of the townspeople. How? Let's take a look at a few facts:
- In the underground galleries of Chaillot, during the world exhibition in Paris (in 1878), the Catacombs cafe was opened. Many say with confidence that it is simply impossible not to visit this place
- Mushrooms are grown in the dungeons of the capital, which is a favorite product in the national cuisine of France.
- The famous writer Victor Hugo created the greatest epic novel Les Misérables, the plot of which is closely connected with the underworld of Paris.
- During the Second World War, the quarries were used by the leaders of the French Resistance. In the summer of 1944, a headquarters was organized there, which was located just 500 meters from the secret Nazi bunker.
- During the era of the Cold War and the threat of nuclear attack, some tunnels of the dungeon were converted into bomb shelters.
- "Paris catacombs" is one of the few films that was filmed not on the set, but directly in the dungeons themselves.
Section 4. What is an Ossuary?
In the Middle Ages, the Catholic Church did not prohibit burials near churches, most of which were located in cities. More than two million people are buried in the Cemetery of the Innocents, which is the largest in Paris. The remains of not only ordinary parishioners, but alsopeople who died during the plague and died in the massacre on St. Bartholomew's night. There are also hundreds of unidentified bodies buried in the cemetery.
Not everyone knows that often the graves reached a depth of 10 meters, and the mound of earth increased to 3 meters.
Unsurprisingly, the city cemetery subsequently became a source of infection, and in 1763 Parliament banned mass graves within the city. In 1780, after the collapse of the wall separating the churchyard from the urban area, the cemetery was completely closed, and no one else was buried within Paris.
For a long time, the remains after disinfection were taken to the underground quarries of Tomb-Isoire. Workers laid the bones at a depth of more than 17 meters, as a result of which a wall appeared, and almost 780 meters of galleries with the remains of the dead appeared, which were located in a circle. So in the Parisian catacombs in 1786 the Ossuary was founded. About six million people found peace here, including many famous personalities, but even more - unknown to anyone.
Section 5. Parisian catacombs today
According to the opinion of tourists, getting into the Ossuary, you do not even notice that you are at a depth of 20 meters. Here you can see wall paintings of the 18th century, various monuments and historical exhibits, an altar located in the air supply shaft.
Guests and locals say that by paying close attention to the ceiling, you can see a black line - "Ariadne's thread", which helped not to get lost in the galleries in the past, whenthere was electricity. Now in the dungeon there are still places that have not changed since then: monuments and bas-reliefs installed on the burial places of past centuries; limestone well; supporting pillars for the vault.
In general, it should be noted that the Parisian catacombs (2014 - another confirmation of this) are becoming more and more popular attractions of the French capital.
Section 6. How to get inside
Entrance to the Parisian catacombs is located next to the metro station "Denfert-Rochereau" (Denfert-Rochereau). Landmark - a sculpture of a lion. The catacombs are open daily (except Monday) from 10.00 to 17.00. The cost of the tour is 8-10 euros (children under 14 years old are free).
By the way, experienced travelers are advised to pay attention to the fact that individual visits are prohibited.
Currently, galleries with a length of 2.5 kilometers are available to visitors. There are also closed areas that are dangerous to visit. In November 1955, a law was specially issued in Paris prohibiting stay in these places. And since 1980, separate police brigades have been monitoring compliance with these rules.
Section 7. Why illegal visits are dangerous
Despite all the bans, there are thrill-seekers who, risking their lives, illegally enter the dungeon through sewer manholes, subway stations, etc.
Underground galleries with narrow and low labyrinths have complex passages where it is easy to get lost. Yes, in1793 the caretaker of the Val-de-Grâce church tried to find old wine cellars in the quarries, but got lost. His remains were found only many years later, identifying the poor fellow by the keys and the remaining clothes.
There are a lot of modern "heroes" too, but the local police are doing everything possible to prevent such unfortunate travelers from entering.
In fact, there are many interesting things in this country: the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, amazing ancient cities, the ocean, endless fields of vineyards, the Parisian catacombs … France, however, should be remembered only for positive moments and joyful minutes. Everyone who has already managed to visit the mentioned object is ready to dissuade you from committing a rash act.
