Catacombs of Paris, France, Underground ossuary in Paris, France
The Catacombs of Paris are an underground ossuary in the fourteenth arrondissement of Paris, France. They consist of a network of tunnels and chambers lined with human bones, including a famous barrel-shaped column of skulls and femurs, and a wall of tightly packed bones with skulls arranged in patterns.
The ossuary was created in the late eighteenth century to solve public health problems caused by overcrowded cemeteries. Bones were transferred from Paris cemeteries between 1786 and 1860, and the site opened to the public in 1809.
The name 'Catacombs' was borrowed from the Roman catacombs, and the site has inspired artists and writers for centuries. Today, visitors can see inscriptions and poems on the walls, and the ossuary is a place for reflection on mortality.
Visitors should wear comfortable shoes and bring a jacket, as the site is cool and damp with many stairs. The entrance is at Place Denfert-Rochereau, and the exit is at 21 bis avenue René-Coty, so plan your route accordingly.
The bones are arranged in decorative patterns, such as a barrel-shaped column and a wall with skulls forming a cross. In 1813, goldfish were placed in the Samaritan Fountain and survived but became blind.
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