While wandering through one of the winding streets of Paris, I came across a long queue of tourists waiting in front of a small door. Curiosity struck me—what were these tourists waiting for? I heard many different languages as I walked past the long line, confirming that whatever lay beyond that door had undoubtedly captured the attention and curiosity of travelers from all over the world.
As I got closer, I noticed a sign warning those with weak hearts and respiratory diseases against entering, and it strictly prohibited children under fourteen from passing through the door. The scene became even stranger—I had to know what was hidden behind that door. What was inside?
I asked someone in line, "What are you waiting for?"
He replied, "To see the other face of the City of Love and Lights."
My curiosity and excitement grew when I saw police officers escorting some young men from other entrances of the site. A staff member informed me that these individuals had tried to sneak into restricted areas and meddle in things that did not concern them. Strange—what were the officials hiding, and what were those young men searching for?
All these questions pushed me, without hesitation, to join the long queue and wait for my turn. But there was one strict condition—"Put your camera aside. It is strictly forbidden to bring it inside."
I entered, and the first thing that struck me was the overwhelming smell of death. But what I saw was an even greater shock—a hidden world beneath the city of Paris, a terrifying sight that the public only glimpses, leaving one to wonder what horrors remain undiscovered.
The Paris Catacombs, or as they are known worldwide, "Catacombes de Paris."
Greetings, dear friends. I hope you are well, and welcome to this discussion. Today, we will visit France—specifically, the capital, Paris. But our journey will take us to one of its strangest places, or rather, what lies beneath it.
As a bit of humor, the first thing that came to my mind when visiting this place was the well-known saying: *"On the outside, it's splendid, but on the inside, only God knows."* You will soon understand why when I tell you about the true horror lurking beneath this city.
So, take a deep breath, my friends, and listen carefully. Tonight, we are visiting one of the most mysterious and terrifying places in Paris—the Catacombs.
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Now, let’s begin.
The Paris Catacombs are one of the most famous landmarks in France, attracting tourists just as the Eiffel Tower does for those eager to see the city of life and lights.
The irony is that this site represents the complete opposite—where the city of life becomes the city of death and the city of lights turns into the city of darkness. Here, you stand in awe before the presence of death—bones stacked in a bizarre geometric pattern, skulls decorating the corridor walls as you walk through in shock. You are, in every sense, inside the world's largest mass grave.
What surrounds you? The remains of six million people. Yes, my friends, six million Parisians. Bones dating back centuries—skulls and skeletons relocated from their original burial sites to their final resting place here in the catacombs.
Before delving into the history of this place, let me tell you about the origins of the word "catacombs." The term originates from ancient Roman civilization and literally means "underground burial chambers." These burial sites were not just ordinary cemeteries but were designed in an artistic and geometric manner that is both eerie and mesmerizing.
Our journey begins in a small green room, which serves as the entrance to the site, located at *Place Denfert-Rochereau*. The number of visitors allowed inside at a time is limited to 200, which explains the long queues that can sometimes stretch into the thousands.
You descend into the famous catacombs via a 130-step staircase, reaching the tunnels 65 feet below the city of Paris. As you start walking through these tunnels, it becomes clear that they are ancient, not from modern times. A guide accompanying our group explains that these tunnels originally served as quarries, providing stone for building Paris since the 12th century.
Continuing forward, you encounter a beautiful carving of *Fort Mahon*, one of the most famous castles in Europe. This exquisite carving was sculpted when these tunnels still functioned as stone quarries, employing thousands of workers.
After 15 minutes of walking, you reach what can only be described as the "Empire of the Dead." Here, you find an inscription carved into a rock that reads:
Stop! This is the Empire of the Dead
You stop in shock at what you see—thick walls stretching from floor to ceiling, but they are not made of stone, cement, or wood. No, they are made entirely of human bones.
Rows upon rows of human bones stand side by side, forming the walls of the catacombs. Skulls are carefully arranged between stacks of leg bones, shoulder bones, and other skeletal parts. Looking around, you realize you are literally surrounded by death.
Art is present here too, just like in the Roman catacombs. A circular column made entirely of human bones stands in the center of the tunnels. From a distance, a wall resembling a heart appears, skillfully designed using skulls and bones.
At this point, questions flood your mind: Where did all these bones come from? Why were they buried this way? What happened here to turn these tunnels into mass graves with such eerie designs?
The story begins in the late 13th century.
The smell of rotting corpses in Parisian cemeteries became unbearable. Overcrowding had made proper burials impossible, and complaints from residents forced authorities to ban burials within the city.
Some locals suggested moving the bodies to cemeteries on the outskirts, but the church strictly refused, considering it disrespectful to the dead.
For a short while, the problem seemed to be under control. But in 1790, something unexpected happened.
Heavy rains flooded the cemeteries, causing the waterlogged ground to push buried bodies back to the surface. The soil collapsed in the largest cemetery—*Cimetière des Innocents*—and a horrific scene unfolded. Piles of decomposed corpses, unbearable stench, and the rapid spread of disease plagued the city.
Desperate, officials reconsidered a proposal by police officer Alexandre Lenoir, who, in 1777, had suggested converting part of the underground quarries into a mass grave. The church, which had initially opposed the idea, finally gave in.
Authorities then began the massive operation of transferring millions of skeletons. Special carts transported the bones exclusively at night to avoid public outrage. Priests accompanied the process, reciting prayers for the departed.
French engineers and artists, including *Héricart de Thury*, insisted on showing respect for the dead by arranging the bones artistically, leading to the catacombs’ unique and eerie aesthetic.
By 1860, the transfer of bones was completed. Though the catacombs opened to the public in 1806, they have always been a source of mystery and fascination.
Today, only a small section—about 2 km—is open for a 45-minute tour. But many believe that hidden secrets and undisclosed tunnels stretch beneath half of Paris.
Some adventurers sneak into the forbidden areas through sealed entry points. The police often find lost individuals suffering from dehydration and hallucinations after wandering in the tunnels for days. Occult groups and devil worshippers also attempt to perform rituals in these dark depths.
Despite all the terrifying facts, curiosity remains king.
If this is what we are allowed to see, what horrors lie beyond?
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