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Catacombs : Paris, France : Trip Report
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Catacombs

Our morbidity tour continues in Paris, France with one of the lesser known tourist spots, the Catacombs. The burial place was created in the 18th century from Roman-era limestone quarries. At that time Paris was suffering from waves of various diseases that was caused by groundwater contamination which in turn was caused by improper burials and mass graves. The government decided to remove the bones from these troublesome graves and relocate them to the the abandoned quarries. I don't know how many millions of bones are down there.

The tour is of the small portion of the catacombs that are open to the public and safe to enter. Near the ticket counter were several warning signs letting people with a "nervous disposition" that this might not be the place for them. We paid our fee and walked down a very long spiral staircase then entered one long empty hallway after another. Finally we entered the Ossuary of Denfer-Rochereaux which is where the graves begin. Not knowing what to expect we walked in. Immediately Lily started getting weird on me. Usually she likes morbid things such as watching every CSI-like show there is and regularly reading about serial killers. But the Catacombs were too much.

Inside were long hallways with either side lined about 5' high and 4' deep with very neatly stacked bones. Sometimes the skulls were arranged into crosses or other geometric patterns. There was no glass between you and the bones! After what seemed like miles of bones Lily proclaimed that she got her money's worth and wanted to find the exit as quickly as possible.
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Monument in the traffic circle nearby.
Warning duly noted.

Lily still smiling, she hasn't seen the bones yet.
Attention! The empire of death is here.

Very dark in here, should have brought a flashlight.
One of the less neat piles of bones.

Lily's not smiling any more.

Arch built to hold up the ceiling after a cave-in.

Comments From People Like You!
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whispergently
01-Nov-2008 03:49
Very impressive, I'm interested in history, I've read that there were indians buried in this catacomb. I'm looking to see if there would be any mention of Chief Donnacona or of any indian originally from Canada, apparently they were buried under the street called "la rue des andouilles"? The word "andouilles" was used to refer to indians.

Next: Visiting the Cathedral of Notre Dame.
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