Exploring the Paris Catacombs: A Journey Through the City's Underworld

The Catacombs of Paris are a vast network of old quarry tunnels beneath the city. These ossuaries hold the remains of over six million people, transferred from overcrowded cemeteries starting in the late 18th century.

By the 17th century, Parisian cemeteries were brimming, causing health hazards. The Council of State chose the abandoned quarries beneath Paris to relocate remains, thus creating the Catacombs in 1786 for this purpose.

The bones within the Catacombs are meticulously arranged. Skulls and femurs form patterns, often in a cross or heart shape, bordered by other bones. This artistic arrangement reflects the attitudes towards death in the 18th century.

Throughout history, the Catacombs have hosted secret societies and illicit activities. During WWII, the French Resistance used these tunnels to evade Nazi soldiers, while smugglers and bandits have sought refuge underground for centuries.

The Catacombs have inspired many works of literature. Victor Hugo referenced them in 'Les Misérables', and they are the setting for a pivotal scene in Gaston Leroux's 'The Phantom of the Opera'.

Of the 200-mile network, only a small portion is open to the public. The rest is illegal to access due to dangers like cave-ins, loss of direction, and the potential for vandalism or disrespect to the remains.

Modern-day Catacombs continue to fascinate, drawing thrill-seekers and historians alike. They've been featured in films and documentaries, and even influence fashion with their symbols of mortality and the macabre.