Truths and Legends About the Parisian Catacombs
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The fascinating Paris Catacombs , filled with human bones, or ossuaries in the scientific sense, are the most mysterious and terrifying attraction in Paris. They are the largest ossuary in the known world.
Tourists are offered a one-hour walk through 2 km of tunnels, but many know that the true extent of the underground corridors is much greater. The fascination with the catacombs is great for many people. This is where we came up with the idea of creating gothic beer mugs with all these skulls , for your information!
If you're ready, I'll take you to this mysterious place to discover the depths of Paris!
Paris is a great quarry
Okay, let's start with a little history to set the scene. A thousand years ago, Paris was still so small that it consisted of two central arrondissements. But the city was constantly under construction, which required a lot of stone.
The material was extracted in the nearest suburbs. In the south, limestone, in the north, gypsum. The stone quarries of Paris were therefore the cradle of the catacombs .
Throughout history, man has sought out raw materials as close as possible to his home. In the case of stone, the weight of the goods to be transported was a particular concern. It is therefore logical that the builders of the time drew on the nearest reserves.
Over time, the mining sites became an integral part of the city limits. The open pits were planted in the Buttes-Chaumont and Belleville parks. The underground mines remained unexploited for a long time afterward, due to lack of use, until it became necessary to dismantle Paris's overflowing cemeteries .
Paris quarries become cemeteries
There's not an ounce of fiction in this story. I'm taking the example of one of Paris's many churches because many have been in the same situation: imagine a thousand-year-old cemetery that couldn't extend beyond the confines of the church. In some places, the burial layer reaches 10 meters, given the number of ancestors on top of each other. Under the pressure, the cemetery walls fail, and the contents fall into the street.
I'll let you imagine the Parisians' vision of terror at the sight of such a collapse!
In order to restore order, access to the church cemetery had to be closed, and all the bones were washed and dumped somewhere where there was space. The old quarries , for example. Miles of tunnels dug underground, just waiting to be used. So some saw the bones neatly arranged, while others looked more like a huge mound of bones.
So the skulls and other bones had found a new home! Even if they didn't look exactly like this, this skull on this beer mug would have been a good fit:
You can click on the image to see it directly! 😉
Less than a hundred years passed when it turned out that many people were interested in visiting the underground necropolis . In 1867, organized excursions began to be conducted. And now there are hour-long queues for tourists ! That is why it is better to buy a ticket in advance, for example here .
Celebrities in the dark
The contents of all the cemeteries in Paris over the past thousand years have been gathered in an underground crypt. Rough estimates suggest that between six and seven million people are buried there. Of course, famous historical figures have also been buried there.
It is certain that figures of the French Revolution were lost in the catacombs : Robespierre and Danton, the scientists Pascal and Lavoisier, the writers Charles Perrault and François Rabelais. But there is good reason to believe that Molière, the father of French theater, and La Fontaine, the inventor of the fable, kept them company.
Their official graves are located in the Père-Lachaise cemetery, but Lafontaine's sarcophagus is almost certainly empty. Molière was originally buried behind the cemetery fence and without a headstone, so it is no longer possible to authenticate the remains.
I also recommend that you take a walk through this magnificent cemetery with an audio guide to discover the stories of their extraordinary lives if you have the opportunity.
If you're lucky enough to wander through the underground catacombs, you can imagine that some of the skulls you pass by might be those of geniuses of their time! We also have a multitude of beer mugs with a skull, here's one at random:
Cataphiles: Lovers of the catacombs
Such a picturesque place , surrounded by darkness, inevitably attracts attention. Some seek to find a mystery or something valuable (perhaps the Holy Grail or a legendary treasure) or skeleton skulls there, others go there in search of thrills. People who do not suffer from a fear of darkness and enclosed spaces are nicknamed cataphiles.
This underground tunnel attracts millions of Parisians who love catacombs and are eager for discovery. These underground quarries are home to the most unusual tales and legends about ancient relics dating back to 19th-century Greek mythology. The cult of death frightens as much as it fascinates. That's just the way it is; there's nothing we can do about it!
This archaeological crypt is a magnet for archaeologists and paleontologists from all over the world. This cult has inspired us to create a unique and beautiful model for beer AND catacomb lovers. As luck would have it, we named it the Catacomb Beer Mug (you couldn't make it up!):
We have what you need if you like these places, our decorative items (products) in this theme are particularly original for you or if you want to offer it to a loved one who loves these underground galleries!
Napoleon III himself liked to descend into the catacombs , hold meetings there, and meet important guests. Was he trying to embarrass and destabilize those he met there? Perhaps. For the element of surprise, in any case, that's for sure!
The catacombs have many exits to the surface, often through the basements of buildings. In 1955, as a precaution, it was forbidden to walk in the metro, and many passages were walled off. The catacombs were outlaws, but that didn't bother them too much. The French have always had a taste for the forbidden!
Many people continued to venture into the forbidden catacombs. Various maps were initiated in a more or less artisanal manner. Newcomers were initiated by the elders, and knowledge of the underground tunnels was passed down from cataphiles to cataphiles.
A true community has formed around these emblematic places that are the catacombs . The most knowledgeable reveal only some of their secrets and keep the most unusual places to themselves, for fear that others will vandalize them.
It should also be noted that, as later in the Parisian sewers, certain crossroads or street names were noted in the maze of tunnels to help people find their way around.
Stack of bones
What often strikes people are these walls made of skulls . It is not known exactly why those who filled the catacombs with the bones of Parisians "played" with the remains of their ancestors. Nevertheless, they must be recognized as having a certain artistic side and a clear desire for order is evident.
Death fascinates, and so do human bones. The proof is in the form of this magnificent skeleton-hand beer cup:
It is very clearly the arrangement of these bones that marks people's minds. Skulls , tibias and femurs are very predominantly represented while the human body is made up of many types of bones. Why not sculptures based on pelvic bones or even ribs? Why not make a wall entirely made of teeth? Mystery...
Paris underground
You have no idea how porous the ground beneath Paris is. Most of the catacombs are five stories deep, which is deeper than the metro and sewers, but in other places, the tunnels are also closer to the surface. It's quite dangerous to build tall buildings in such an area. An entire city block has fallen into the catacombs along with its inhabitants twice in history. People have been tragically killed.
To recover from these emotions, why not enjoy a beer in a beautiful mug? Here's a model that's very popular!
The situation is partly saved by the existing ban on building buildings higher than 6 stories for reasons of urban aesthetics. But in some places, the old quarries will not even be able to support a three-story house. These unusual neighborhoods have a particular charm, that of low buildings. If you are looking for unusual Parisian places , I invite you to the Beau-aux-Cai in the 13th arrondissement or the Muzaya district in the 19th arrondissement near the Parc des Buttes-Chaumont.
Another danger lurks within the catacombs . Groundwater periodically fills some of the tunnels . This problem has been partially addressed since the time of Louis XVI, when the simplest method—pouring concrete over the tunnels —was used. However, maintenance is expensive, and the city of Paris does not always have the means to fill all the cracks.
Room Z
Empty dungeons often served as shelters for the homeless. In the 20th century, these deep underground passages were used as bomb shelters. The very first one was built in 1934. And during the German occupation of Paris, there was a secret German bunker underground. It was located at the very end of one of the tunnels , so it was called Room Z.
This was far from the only bunker in the catacombs . Much later, after the war, passionate underground explorers, drawing up a detailed map, discovered that there was only 500 m between the Nazi bunkers and those of the Resistance! There was absolutely no sound or audibility underground, so they could not detect each other. It's pretty crazy when you think about it!
In the 70s, when punk culture was taking over Paris, the Z room was used for illegal parties. It was well-suited, as the height was low (4-meter ceilings are rarely found in the catacombs ), and the German inscriptions on the walls added color, complexity, and flavor to the punk style.
I don't know if it's necessarily punk, but in any case, our skull-shaped bottle opener ring would happily bite into any bottle caps you could throw at it!
After punk culture came goth culture, which, given the type of place the catacombs represent, was completely in its element. It's not uncommon to come across a forgotten gothic beer stein in a room, symbolizing a passage of this community.
Conclusion on the Parisian catacombs
You'll need a cataphile guide for a guided tour if you're brave enough to visit the catacombs on your own. Many have gotten lost there and bitterly regretted their carelessness.
Walking along the tourist route in the catacombs , it is best not to get lost in this labyrinth . But the place, as gloomy as it seems, remains an adventure and an experience worth discovering!
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Many of our beer mug designs feature a human skull , perfectly in keeping with the spirit of the catacombs , for example! To see all of our designs, simply click on this link: Beer mug .
To discover all of our products, click on this link: Chopedebiere .
If you would like to read one of my other articles, I suggest you learn about the invention of the beer mug .
To see all my other blog posts, click on Chopedebiere Blog.
Here is a short video to make you want to visit the Paris catacombs :
