Beneath the bustling streets of Paris lies a vast underground ossuary known as the Catacombs, one of the city’s most unsettling landmarks.
The Catacombs date back to the late 18th century, when Paris faced a public health crisis as its cemeteries overflowed. In 1786, authorities ordered the transfer of remains from the city’s graveyards to abandoned limestone quarries beneath the capital. Over the next decades, millions of skeletons were carefully arranged in the tunnels, creating long corridors lined with bones.
Today, the Catacombs hold the remains of more than 6 million people, making it the world’s largest ossuary. The macabre site became a public attraction in the early 19th century, drawing curiosity seekers, writers, and later tourists. Only a portion of the network – about 1.5 kilometers – is open to visitors, while much of the underground labyrinth remains off-limits. Strictly regulated by the city, the Catacombs now welcome hundreds of thousands of visitors each year, who descend 131 steps to explore the dimly lit passages.
The Catacombs stand today as both a popular tourist site and a haunting reminder of mortality, blending history, mystery, and surreal beauty beneath the city’s streets.
Yesel Kang Copy Editor junior/1757053649/1613368124
1. What are the Catacombs of Paris and where are they located?
2. Why were the Catacombs originally created in the late 18th century?
3. How were the remains arranged inside the Catacombs?
4. How many people’s remains are currently held in the Catacombs?
1. Why do you think people are fascinated by visiting places like the Catacombs?
2. How do historical sites like the Catacombs help us reflect on life and death?
3. How might the design of the Catacombs influence visitors’ feelings or experiences?
4. Why is it important to regulate access to places like the Catacombs?
Beneath the bustling streets of Paris lies a vast underground ossuary known as the Catacombs, one of the city’s most unsettling landmarks.
