Inside The Catacombs Of Paris

The catacombs that lie under the streets of Paris make for one of the most morbidly fascinating attractions in the city of love.

Sitting 20 metres underneath the French capital, the winding mazes stretch for around 200 miles, incorporating the resting place for more than six million people.

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The macabre underground network was originally built after the French Revolution ended. It was made to accommodate the remains of tombs that were destroyed when the city was expanded.

Ever since private events were put on during the 19th century, a small section of the catacombs have remained open to the public - but there is a much more dangerous side to the tunnels, with some illegally entering to explore them further.

Some foolhardy souls have taken the exploration of the catacombs into their own hands. Past the well-cared-for section that was opened up by the authorities, there is an off-limits side to the creepy underground world.

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Of course, those who venture into the catacombs are putting themselves at risk. The area is also known as 'The Empire of Death' - doesn't exactly sound inviting does it?

It's essentially a burial system set up to help with the overflow of dead bodies from the city's graveyards.

The depth and vastness of the caves can scare even the most seasoned of explorers, especially when added to the small fact that there is a lack of light when you enter illegally.

Some of the tunnels are flooded, thanks to natural cracks in the rocks. In fact, some urban explorers have reported underground water systems that can be higher than waist deep.

Those who explore the catacombs illegally - known as cataphiles - know that going solo is not the way to travel through them.

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It's been reported that people have become lost or trapped in the tunnels. Can you imagine anything worse than being stuck hundreds of feet underground on your own? Not for me, thank you.

There have even been reports that a person died while in the catacombs - said to have occurred at one of the many illegal parties that took place in the area.

So all in all - the catacombs are most definitely not a place that we'd advise visiting illegally. Seeing as entry only costs from about €12 (£11) it's probably worth just coughing up to visit properly.

Topics: World News, Interesting, Weird

Amelia Ward

Amelia is a journalist at LADbible. After studying journalism at Liverpool John Moores and Salford Uni (don't ask), she went into PR and then the world of music. She spent a few years working on festivals and events before joining LADbible. In her spare time, Amelia likes music and spending good, quality time with her cat, Paul. You can contact Amelia at [email protected].

@ameliasward