Under the Paris skies, lovers walk, while under the cobblestones, cataphiles sneak. On the surface, the capital's emblematic heritage is awe-inspiring, but underground Paris is just as fascinating.
For beneath our feet lies one of the most mysterious places in the City of Light. It's called Les Catacombes de Paris, a network of ancient underground quarries known to hold the remains of millions of Parisians. Want to find out more? Here are three unusual anecdotes about the Catacombs.
An underground maze
Before becoming the ossuary they are known for today, the Catacombs of Paris were a network of ancient stone quarries that were used to construct the capital's buildings over several centuries. In all, 320km of galleries lie beneath our feet. Only 1.7km of the network is accessible to the general public.
Under the cobblestones, the beach
If Hogwarts has a Chamber of Secrets, the Catacombs ofParis have several. In the part of the Catacombs inaccessible to the public are many unusual rooms, proof of the rich history of these ancient underground quarries. Among the best-known are La Plage, a room whose walls are covered with a drawing inspired by Hokusai's wave, and whose floor is covered with sand, and the Salle du Cellier, covered with frescoes by street artists.
The Paris underground quarries are also home to several shelters, including a World War II bunker and other mythical rooms such as the Salle du Château, featuring gargoyles and a sculpture of a medieval castle. The Salle Z, with its higher ceilings, frescoed walls and graffiti, hosted improvised parties and concerts in the 80s.
A costly exploration!
The catacombs are fascinating, but beware of exploring the forbidden galleries. In addition to a fine ranging from €60 to €3750, you'll be exposing yourself to a number of risks: landslides, bad encounters or simply getting lost are just a few examples of the dangers that await you. And good luck finding help, because it's doubtful you'll be able to get a signal 20 meters underground.
Take the unfortunate experience of Philibert Aspairt, porter at Val-de-Grâce, who ventured into the catacombs in 1793 and never found his way back. His body, found 11 years later, was identified thanks to his bunch of keys, and a stele was erected in his memory on the very spot where he was discovered.
