The Catacombs of Paris
Historical Tourist Attraction Closed Indefinitely Due to Vandalism
Sep 28, 2009
The Paris catacombs are one of the city’s more unusual tourist destinations. Opened to the public since 1867, the catacombs are a vast network of underground tunnels which house the bones and skulls of the deceased. In the seventeenth century cemetery crowding, improper burials, and mass open graves led to rampant disease and health concerns for the cemeteries located within the central city of Paris, leading to public outcry.
Above Ground Cemetaries Relocated to Paris' Left Bank
In 1875, the displeasure of residents led to the decision to close the cemetery of Pope Innocent, located in modern day Les Halles district, and relocate its residents to a new location. Three new large subterranean cemeteries on Paris’ Left Bank were formed in what were depleted quarries and underground mines while the above-ground cemeteries within the city limits of Paris were condemned.
Burial of Skeletons in the Catacombs
As a cemetery, the catacombs were considered scared ground and the bones were not moved until after the tunnels were blessed by priests. The movement of bones and burial services were conducted with proper ceremony between 1786 and 1788 led by a procession of priests. Bones were piled underground here on either side of the walls creating a walkway through the ossuary. The walls of the catacombs are lined with the bones of over six million Parisians, some of whose skulls have been placed along the wall in decorative formations including heart-shaped reliefs and crosses.
Eerily quiet, the catacombs do not include fully intact skeletons. One of the main purposes of the catacombs project was to compact the space used above ground. The majority of bone piles reach approximately one and a half metres in height and range from only a few yards deep to roughly 18 to 20 m deep.
Paris Catacombs are a Major Tourist Attraction
Due to their unusual location, and out of perhaps morbid curiosity, the catacombs of Paris have been a popular tourist attraction since their inception. The aristocracy, artists and writers, and even Napoleon III and his son were all visitors to this underground resting place. Drawing over 250,000 visitors each year, the Paris catacombs cover approximately 300 km of underground tunnels. Only a portion of this vast underground network of burial chambers is open to the public as several older and more narrow sections are closed off by iron gates due to safety concerns.
The designated walking path open to the public is roughly 1.5 km in length, and is dimly lit. A flashlight is encouraged for tourists who would like more light, and the catacombs are not recommended for those with claustrophobia. The catacombs are not wheelchair accessible as there are a narrow 143 steps to reach the underground burial chambers.
Vandalism Leads to Closure of the Catacombs
Damage by vandals occurred over the weekend of September 19th to 20th, 2009. These neatly stacked rows of skulls and bones have been vandalized resulting in the indefinite closure of the catacombs. The extent of the damage has not been released by representatives, but it is believed that the previously neat formations of bones have been scattered and littered along the pathway posing safety concerns for visitors.
With no set date for reopening in sight, the Paris catacombs sadly remain closed indefinitely.
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