Did You Know?

Did you know that Paris is known as the "City of Light"? This nickname doesn't refer to the city's abundance of streetlights but instead to its historical status as a center of enlightenment and education during the Age of Enlightenment in the 18th century.

Did you know that Paris is home to the Louvre Museum, one of the largest and most visited art museums in the world? However, the Louvre wasn't always a museum. It was initially built as a fortress in the 12th century, then transformed into a royal palace before being opened to the public as a museum in 1793.

Did you know that Paris is known for its café culture? The city is famous for its numerous charming sidewalk cafes where people can relax, enjoy a cup of coffee, and soak in the atmosphere. The café culture in Paris has been an integral part of the city's social life and has inspired many famous writers, artists, and intellectuals throughout history.

Did you know that Paris has an extensive underground tunnel network known as the Catacombs? These tunnels house the remains of approximately six million people. The Catacombs were created in the late 18th century to address the issue of overcrowded cemeteries in the city.

Did you know that the Eiffel Tower, one of the most iconic landmarks in Paris, was initially built as a temporary structure for the 1889 World's Fair? It was intended to stand for just 20 years before being dismantled. However, it gained immense popularity and was saved from demolition, eventually becoming a beloved symbol of the city.

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The Catacombs Of Paris: A Fascinating Journey Beneath The City Of Lights

Underground view of the eerie Catacombs of Paris, with walls lined with skulls and bones.

Possibly the best-known catacombs in the world (there are seven major ones), the Catacombs of Paris are not the oldest nor the largest. Whereas the catacombs in Rome were established largely due to lack of land burial space, Paris catacombs provided a solution for desperately over-crowed cemeteries. Some six to seven million bodies were transferred from graveyards in the 1700s and 1800s.

Why didn’t cemeteries just pile bodies (or caskets) on top of one another? There is a minimum depth at which most municipalities and cities deem safe for underground burial, so stacking eventually results in corpses too near the surface, and dead bodies can be harbours for disease. Parisians at the time were concerned for health reasons.

While a little creepy, and definitely not for everyone, the Catacombs of Paris are extensive, but only a couple of hundred feet, about 60 metres, are accessible to the public. These have been “arranged” for general viewing, with artistic layouts of human bones and skulls. Another aesthetic form of expression from artsy Paris...