Unusual location of the Month: The Catacombs

Unusual location of the Month: The Catacombs -

Underneath the city of Paris, you will find a honeycomb of tunnels. The French Resistance used this tunnel during the Second World War, and rave parties flourished there in the 190s. Victor Hugo used his knowledge about the tunnel system when he wrote Les Misérables. In 1871 communards killed a group of monarchists in one chamber. The tunnel system is a vast labyrinth, and no one knows exactly how many tunnels and chambers there are out there. Paris is, after all, a very old city, which was built and rebuilt several times

But in this maze of tunnels, you will find a part of the public -. The famous Catacombs. The Catacombs were created at the end of the 18th century. From the late seventeenth century, Paris' largest cemetery Les Innocents, was also filled with bodies, and neighbors began to illness suffer due to impurities. By improper burials and open mass graves Neither the cemetery, nor any of the others for that matter, could keep up with the population growth of Paris. After several complaints from residents, the State Council said November 9, 1785, the removal and the evacuation of the cemetery.

The bone from 1786 were removed, and continues to 1788 the bones were always moved at night to a ceremony in a procession of priests who on the way sang in the catacombs.

Since the first day they were completed, the catacombs were been an object of curiosity, even for royalty. In 1787, the Lord d'Artois, the King Charles 10 was, it went down with the ladies of the court. In 1814, François 1st, Emperor of Austria, she went to visit and explore, while he was in Paris. In 1860, Napoleon III went there with his son. The catacomb walls are covered in graffiti from the eighteenth century. Each has left their mark at this point. In the late 18th century, the catacombs became a tourist attraction and have open to the public on a regular basis from 1867.

The Catacombs are scary. They are quiet, dark, damp and a bit downright depressing. There are around many bones and most of them are just stacked. You will never know who is who - the skulls are you could be with us someone who died from the plague or from a wealthy aristocrat. You never know.

to get to the catacombs, you can take the metro and RER Denfert-Rochereau or use bus 38 and 68. The museum is open 10:00 to 05:00 every day except Mondays. Last admission is limited at 16.00 out of 0 visitors to the website (entries can be temporarily stopped), and it costs 7 euros. Check their website before you go because they are sometimes closed without warning or explanation.

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