Catacombs Myths

IV. Body Paragraph 3: Myths/Legends

Transition: Considering the catacombs are filled with death, it is expected that there are horrendous stories and legends surrounding them.

a. According to Holly of Paranormal 360, a man who trespassed into the sealed portions of the catacombs claimed to have seen apparitions of lost spirits. He also stated he heard eerie voices of what he believed to be dead people inside. His cameras later disappeared in the catacombs with no explanation. Many people believe this underground grave is the entrance to Hell and blame the supernatural occurrences of missing people and supplies on demons or even the devil himself.
b. Told through Tara MacIsaac, another trespasser took a video walking throughout the catacombs.

One of the most popular options is to go on a guided tour through the publicly open sectors. The official tours last around forty-five minutes, stated by The Catacombs: Official Website. The Catacombs: Official Website also mentions that because of the size of the catacombs, only 200 people can go down on a tour at a time. The tour extends through the ossuary, showcasing the patterns of bones laid out everywhere. The intricate patterns of bones are attached to nearly every surface, and simply by walking through the fraction of the catacombs open to the tour, you are exposed to millions of skeletons. Although it is highly recommended to take the tour with the guide, you are also able to walk the tour path by yourself, since it is all blocked

The signature skeletons everywhere yield inspiration for many famous movies and films in modern culture. The movie As Above, So Below takes place in the catacombs, and Clark Collis’s interview with director John Dowdle mentions that As Above, So Below was the first feature-film to be granted access to film in the illegal sections of the catacombs. Gaston Leroux’s The Phantom of the Opera also takes place in part of the Catacombs in which characters “dart into the infernal underground maze” (Leroux 220) in reference to the Paris catacombs.

VI. Conclusion:
a. While Paris at the surface has a rich culture and its own intriguing history, the city below holds the souls of millions, many of which are still present today. The catacombs of Paris play a major part in Paris’s history, contribute horrifying myths and legends to the Parisian culture, and continue to be relevant and offer stories and adventures to the modern day explorer. If you ever find yourself in the “City of Light” always remember you are standing over the empire of the