Paris is a beautiful city, to say the least. It is often regarded as the city of romance, with its amazing scenic nightscapes, cuisine, and culture. After all, France remains the most visited place in the world annually. However, with all the beauty atop the surface, the city holds quite a few eerie ones underneath as well. One of them is the infamous Paris Catacombs. If you are hearing it for the first time, then here is a brief introduction. The Paris Catacombs are labyrinthine tunnels sitting right below the Parisian streets.
It runs for several miles. It is estimated to hold the remains of over six million humans! According to historical records, the construction of the catacombs dates back to the late 18th century. At that time, the cemeteries of Paris were wreaking havoc and causing major health problems for the general public. So the administration decided to move the contents of all the cemeteries to a place that would have less effect on the public. The place decided upon were existing mines that had been abandoned due to cave-ins.
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Since they were originally mines, the program created an unmapped labyrinth. To this day, lengthy parts of the catacombs remain unexplored. Today, though, tourists are allowed inside the catacombs, where there is even a small museum detailing the history. However, only 200 people are allowed inside at any time, and they can only go in a very short distance. Recently, a TikToker has shed light on why the Paris catacombs remain just as deadly and creepy as ever.
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The Secret Of The Paris Catacombs
Some of the more adventurous tourists are allowed to explore the Paris catacombs officially. However, according to the TikToker, it may not be a good idea at all. Amanda Rollins, the poster, shared a short clip containing an eerie warning about the curious attraction. She explained that encountering a Parisian native who knows of a secret entrance to the catacombs does not take a lot of time. However, before you set off on an adventure through such unexplored entrances with a map and a torch, be warned that there may be living dangers in the dark.
She explains, “There’re people that live in there full time, there is a community of people that live in the catacombs.” Her claims arise from her own experience from the time she spent in Paris as well as the words of a former lover who was also a Paris citizen. The problem, she continues, is that this community hates tourists entering such places. They do not care for nationality or intention, they just do not want people there.
The story gets even crazier. Amanda explains that the map is absolutely essential. The catacombs are winding narrow corridors, and explorers would have to climb through water. In some places, they would have to crawl as well. Moreover, there is absolutely no cell service. So, the map is the only lifeline to not get lost. However, she says that the people living down there “when they see you coming in with your map and your flashlights they’ll run up to you, grab your flashlight, and grab your map, and then run away.”
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Heading Into A Deadly Predicament
Amanda continues that this will leave you in that underground labyrinth, with filth and corpses all around, without a map, and with no source of light. Now, historically, there have been cases where people have reportedly gotten lost inside the Paris catacombs. However, they almost always stumble across one of the many exits spread across the city and return to the land of the living. Although, some of the bones found inside the catacombs have been confirmed to have belonged to people who died inside the maze.
A famous story dates back to 1793. One Phillbert Aspairt had entered the Paris catacombs through a set of stairs he had discovered. The stairs were inside a hospital, where Phillbert was employed. Unfortunately, he never returned from the catacombs. He was marked missing for 11 years when explorers discovered his body within the catacombs. So, adventure is nice and all, but a bit of discretion is always advised.
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H/t Lad Bible