In The 1780s, Carts Carried Bones And Skulls Down Into Underground Tunnels Late At Night, And So The The Paris Catacombs Were Born
One of the most thrilling places to fans of all things spooky in Paris is the Paris Catacombs.
You may have heard of them in passing, as they are considered one of the creepiest places in Europe.
During the 12th century, underground tunnels were dug in Paris. The tunnels contained limestone, which many buildings in the city were made out of, and mines were built as well.
Then, after a series of detrimental sinkholes occurred after buildings were constructed above these tunnels in the 1770s and 1780s, King Louis XVI ordered that the tunnels be propped up.
Once the late 1780s rolled around, the tunnels were given an entirely new purpose.
A famous cemetery located in the heart of the city, Cimetière des Innocents, had become overpopulated and treacherous.
It soon became an issue for the city, as the mass amount of bodies being placed there turned it into grounds for dangerous diseases and horrible odors. It got so overcrowded that bodies had to be thrown into pits due to a lack of space.
In a desperate effort to store the bodies in a new space, a decision was made to excavate the excess bodies from Cimetière des Innocents and store them in the underground tunnels. Thus, the Paris Catacombs were born.
Carts carried bones and skulls down into the underground tunnels, which were later named the Catacombs in 1786, late at night to avoid upheaval from city residents.
Photo 78888457 © Marc Capdevila – Dreamstime.com – illustrative purposes only
Eventually, bodies from more cemeteries in the city were also placed in the Catacombs. Bones were arranged in artistic formations, and the remains of at least six million people were placed there.
Today, tourists can go on tours through a little over a mile of the Catacombs, as the rest is closed off to the public.
It’s known to be a very eerie and mind-blowing experience, as there is an old sign that reads, “Stop! You’re entering the realm of the dead” when you walk in.
People also say you should always wear a jacket when you enter the Catacombs as it’s known for being eerily chilly.
Would you ever walk through the Paris Catacombs?
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