Deep beneath the vibrant streets of Paris lies a chilling realm of skulls, bones, and dark history: the catacombs. This vast network of underground tunnels and chambers is the final resting place for millions of Parisians, but have you ever wondered who built this macabre marvel? As a historian, I invite you to join me on a journey to uncover the fascinating story behind the creation of the catacombs of Paris.
A City in Crisis: The Overflowing Cemeteries of Paris
To understand the impetus behind the construction of the catacombs, we must first delve into the historical context of Paris in the late 18th century. The city was grappling with a myriad of social, political, and public health issues, chief among them being the overcrowding of its cemeteries.
The most notorious of these was the Les Innocents cemetery, which had been in use for over 600 years. By the late 1700s, the cemetery held the remains of over 2 million Parisians, with bodies often stacked in mass graves up to 60 feet deep. The decaying corpses posed a serious threat to public health, contaminating the air and water supply. In the words of Louis-Sébastien Mercier, a contemporary writer, the cemetery was "a public plague, a focus of infection, a hotbed of disease" (Mercier, 1782).
Faced with this dire situation, King Louis XV issued an edict in 1763 banning burials within the city limits. However, it wasn‘t until 1780 that a sustainable solution was found: the repurposing of Paris‘ abandoned underground limestone quarries as a massive ossuary.
The Masterminds Behind the Macabre: Lenoir, Guillaumot, and Héricart de Thury
The task of solving the cemetery crisis and creating the catacombs fell to three key figures: Alexandre Lenoir, the Paris police lieutenant general; Charles-Axel Guillaumot, the inspector general of the quarries; and Louis-Étienne Héricart de Thury, the head of the Paris mine inspection service.
Alexandre Lenoir (1761-1839) was a French archaeologist and museologist who played a crucial role in preserving France‘s artistic and historical heritage during the French Revolution. As the Paris police lieutenant general, he was responsible for overseeing the city‘s public health and safety, including the management of its cemeteries.
Charles-Axel Guillaumot (1730-1807) was a French architect and engineer who served as the inspector general of the quarries. He was tasked with assessing the suitability of the abandoned limestone quarries for use as an ossuary and overseeing the initial transfer of remains from the Les Innocents cemetery.
Louis-Étienne Héricart de Thury (1776-1854) was a French mining engineer and geologist who succeeded Guillaumot as the head of the Paris mine inspection service in 1810. He was responsible for the renovation and organization of the catacombs, transforming them from a haphazard bone repository into a visually striking and well-structured ossuary.
The Birth of the Catacombs: Transferring the Remains
The blessing and consecration of the catacombs took place on April 7, 1786, marking the official beginning of the bone transfer process. The first remains to be moved were those from the Les Innocents cemetery, which had been closed the previous year.
The transfer of bones was a solemn and laborious process, carried out by a team of priests and laborers. The remains were exhumed at night to avoid disturbing the public, then loaded onto carts and transported to the catacombs. Once underground, the bones were initially deposited haphazardly in the caverns, forming piles that reached heights of up to 30 meters (98 feet).
This process continued until 1814, by which time an estimated 6-7 million Parisians had found their final resting place within the catacombs. The transfer of remains involved not only those from the Les Innocents cemetery but also from other overcrowded graveyards and charnel houses throughout the city.
Organizing the Ossuary: The Artistic Vision of Héricart de Thury
In 1810, Louis-Étienne Héricart de Thury took charge of the Paris mine inspection service and began the monumental task of renovating and organizing the catacombs. Under his direction, the bones were arranged in a more visually appealing and structurally sound manner, drawing inspiration from the Romantic and Gothic aesthetics of the time.
Héricart de Thury‘s team of workers built walls of bones, carefully selecting and arranging skulls and femurs to create intricate patterns and designs. Stone pillars were erected to support the cavern ceilings, and plaques with poetic and philosophical inscriptions were placed throughout the ossuary, adding to the haunting atmosphere.
One of the most striking features of the catacombs is the "Barrel of Passion," a massive barrel-shaped structure composed of skulls and bones, which serves as a reminder of the fragility of life. Another notable arrangement is the "Fountain of Samaritan," a seven-meter-high (23-foot) pillar of bones with a cross at its center, symbolizing the hope of resurrection.
Héricart de Thury‘s artistic vision transformed the catacombs from a grim bone repository into a macabre masterpiece, a testament to the Romantic era‘s fascination with death and the sublime.
The Catacombs Through Time: Expansion, Exploration, and Fascination
Over the years, the catacombs were expanded to accommodate more remains from other cemeteries and historical events. During the French Revolution, the remains of many notable figures, such as Maximilien Robespierre and Georges Danton, were transferred to the catacombs after their executions.
In 1871, during the Paris Commune, the catacombs served as a refuge and hideout for the Communards, who used the underground network to evade capture by the French army. The Communards also buried some of their fallen comrades within the catacombs, adding another layer to the site‘s complex history.
The catacombs have long been a source of fascination for Parisians and visitors alike. In 1809, the site was first opened to the public for visits, and it has since become one of Paris‘ most iconic and chilling tourist attractions. Today, a portion of the catacombs, spanning about 1.7 kilometers (1.1 miles), is open for guided tours, allowing visitors to witness the incredible craftsmanship and eerie beauty of this underground city of the dead.
The catacombs have also served as a source of inspiration for countless artists, writers, and filmmakers. Victor Hugo, Gaston Leroux, and Anne Rice have all featured the catacombs in their works, while films such as "As Above, So Below" (2014) and "Catacombs" (2007) have used the site as a backdrop for horror and suspense.
A Testament to Life and Death: The Enduring Legacy of the Catacombs
The catacombs of Paris stand as a testament to the ingenuity and resourcefulness of those who built them, as well as a somber reminder of the fleeting nature of life. The masterminds behind this macabre project, from King Louis XVI to the dedicated mine inspectors and laborers, have left an indelible mark on the city‘s history and created a unique and unforgettable experience for those brave enough to descend into the depths of Paris‘ dark past.
As a historian, I am endlessly fascinated by the catacombs and the stories they hold. These underground chambers serve not only as a repository for the remains of millions but also as a reflection of the social, cultural, and artistic forces that shaped Paris through the centuries.
The catacombs remind us of the fragility of life and the inevitability of death, but they also showcase the resilience and adaptability of the human spirit in the face of adversity. In a city renowned for its beauty, romance, and light, the catacombs offer a glimpse into the darker aspects of Parisian history, a testament to the complex tapestry of human experience.
As we continue to explore and study this remarkable site, we uncover not only the bones of the past but also the stories, the struggles, and the triumphs of those who came before us. The catacombs of Paris will forever remain a haunting and captivating reminder of the depths of human history and the enduring power of remembrance.
References:
- Mercier, L. S. (1782). Tableau de Paris. Amsterdam: [s.n.].
- Héricart de Thury, L. E. F. (1815). Description des catacombes de Paris. Paris: Imprimerie de Mme Huzard.
- Riedel, S. (2011). Subterranean Paris: The catacombs and the city beneath the city. The Journal of Architecture, 16(5), 657-675.
- Bos, A. (2019). The Paris Catacombs: A journey into the heart of the city‘s dark history. London: Hachette UK.
Statistics:
- Estimated number of remains in the catacombs: 6-7 million
- Total length of the catacombs: 300 kilometers (186 miles)
- Length of the publicly accessible portion: 1.7 kilometers (1.1 miles)
- Average number of annual visitors: 550,000
