Catacombes de Paris

Six million skeletal remains lie deep underground the city of Paris.

SIX MILLION.

The Catacombs of Paris is the largest necropolis in the world.

We knew that we had to see this for ourselves, so we made out way at around 10am, it's only one stop away from Cité so it just took 5 minutes! But when we arrived, we were not so pleasantly surprised with the line of people waiting to get in. It wrapped around the entire block. But we thought, maybe it would move fast, so we decided to commit to the wait.

Turns out, we wouldn't step foot in the catacombs for FOUR HOURS. We all got sunburnt and a little heat crazy, (because there is also a major heat wave going through Paris right now,) but once we stepped down some 170-steps into the underground tunnels, the freezing temperatures and creepy sights were worth it. (Also we saved 10 euros because we got in free with our ACCENT cards!)

The tunnels that we walked through are actually only 1/800th of all the tunnels under Paris.

The sign reads, "Stop! This is the Empire of the Dead!"

They aren't joking. This sight is not for the faint of heart.

Because you're immediately struck with this. Skull after skull, bone after bone, ominously lining the walls that you walk through. It's so overwhelming it honestly doesn't feel real.

The catacombs were built beginning in 1786, to reinforce the caving in walls underground, as well as relocate the overflowing bodies at cemeteries in the city.

The placement of the bones lining the tunnels, is quite artistic, such as this heart shaped skull formation. It's so creepy, but you can't help but admit that it's quite beautiful.

The unending passage of bones is incredibly eerie, but also very peaceful and quiet which makes it even more eerie.

Each section of the tunnels, uses the same kinds of bone, giving the walls a very intentional pattern of shapes. From far away, they just look like stones in the wall, but close up you realize what they truly are.

Honestly this is the strangest thing I have ever seen in my life, and it really is difficult to fathom that these bones were once inside six million human beings.

Throughout the tunnels, there were many inscriptions on the walls, explaining when it was built and by who. There were also many prayers and scriptures on the wall.

"For me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain" -Philippians 1:21

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