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.

It started out as a calm exploration, yet as the video progressed, he picked up pace until he broke into a full-on sprint. You soon see the camera drop, facing away from the man. The camera with this footage was found later on, but the man, unfortunately, was not. Professionals predicted the man sensed some sort of “being” behind him which caused his fast pace, and also predicted that he was eventually attacked or taken away by this “being”, causing him to drop his camera. Years after this event, a researcher and his crew went into the same area as the missing man’s camera was found in the attempt to find him; after over ten hours of intense searching, nothing was found.
c. Countless visitors to the catacombs claim to hear the walls talking to them late at night, according to the Phantom Seekers. One explorer, who claims to have heard these phantom voices, followed where the voices led, walking for hours through the abandoned tunnels. When the tapes from that day were reviewed, the only voice heard belonged to the explorer. Along with disembodied voices, other common unexplained phenomena include: visual hallucinations, loss of time, and the persistent feeling of being watched even while alone.

V. Body Paragraph 4: Modern Uses

Transition: Going to check out the ghosts and demons lurking deep in the innermost tunnels aren’t the only thing you can do if you visit the catacombs.

a.

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

off.
b. Entering the sealed off portions of the catacombs are illegal, yet countless people find their way in through passages in basements or even sewer tunnels. Jon Henley shares a story in which, while patrolling, Paris police officers found a fully functional cinema in a sealed off part of the catacombs. Upon further investigation, the officers found swastikas and other strange symbols graffitied onto the ceiling, along with a fully stocked minibar. Another theatre found in the catacombs, referenced by Lauren Johnston, had the seats carved into the rock, yielding an amphitheater-esque look. Other strange objects, such as shrines for deceased loved ones, have appeared in the inaccessible areas in the catacombs, leading to a permanent police presence. Because of the sheer size of the catacombs, the police only patrol certain areas, but it is enough to catch some “cataphiles”, or people who enjoy exploring the illegal catacombs. Often blogged about, cataphiles have their own culture, in which the most experienced offer tips and guidance to beginners. Exploring the catacombs can be risky even for the most skilled cataphiles, and because of the huge possibilities for cave-ins, the catacombs can change from visit to visit. Melissa Lesnie recalls that every time her guide had to check his map, or backtrack slightly, she became even more nervous than before. Melissa Lesnie also states that since the illegal tunnels rarely have surveillance, looters rob the bodies throughout those tunnels, selling the skeletons for whatever they can get. Some people even go simply for the thrill of exploration. Neil Shea recalls seeing a man hopping out of a manhole cover, a common entrance into the illegal sections, and then a woman popping out as well. After replacing the cover, the man grabs the woman's hand, and they walk off together.
c. Usually, exploring cramped, dirty, and illegal tunnels is not the most romantic idea for a date, although Airbnb is offering a creative solution for those who dream of living in the catacombs. According to Maureen O’Hare, Airbnb recently renovated a section of the catacombs to serve as a hotel suite for two lucky winners last Halloween. The winners were announced, and October 31st, 2015 became the first people to ever officially spend the night in the Paris catacombs. The room was furnished with a bed, a kitchen, a bathroom, and other common hotel room amenities, and added up to a total cost of over $400,000 dollars to renovate it completely. This hotel room is not for everyone though, as the walls and ceilings remain lined with bones, above the bed, the kitchen, and even the restroom.
d.

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

dead.