Haunted Places

Though famously known as the “City of Light,” Paris, like most places, has a dark side. In no area is this more evident than in the tunnels that run beneath the metropolis, for it is there that restless spirits are said to roam, surrounded by reminders of their former selves.

Established in 1786, the city’s catacombs are located sixty-five feet beneath the surface and span nearly two hundred miles. Housing millions of sets of human bones, they are, for all intents and purposes, a massive open grave.

This unconventional burial site was born out of necessity. In the 18th century, the city’s cemeteries were bursting at the seams, posing a health hazard to the populace. With few areas available in which to expand, developers came up with the novel idea to store the overflow of bodies in underground limestone quarries.

Over the next thirty years, six million bodies were removed from over two hundred cemeteries and deposited in the catacombs. When all was said and done, bones were stacked six feet high and five feet deep. It was a spooky set up to be sure, as outsiders would soon discover.

During the time of the French revolution, Philibert Apsairt was employed as a doorman at the Val-de-Grace hospital which was situated above the catacombs. One afternoon in 1793, he was sent to fetch a bottle of liqueur from the cellar. After getting turned around in the maze of tunnels, he found himself wandering among the cache of bones.

With only a candle to guide him, Apsairt became hopelessly lost. At some point, the flame was extinguished, plunging him into total darkness. Since no one above ground knew of his predicament, the hapless doorman’s fate was sealed.

Eleven years after he went missing, Apsairt’s remains were finally discovered. He was identified by the hospital ID tag that was still attached to his clothing. His body was found only a few feet from the exit meaning that, although he wasn’t aware of it, he had come maddeningly close to making it out alive.

Since that day, it is rumored that every year on November 3rd, the date of his presumed demise, Apsairt’s spirit awakens and roams the dark tunnels, searching in vain for the elusive way out.

When portions of the mass tomb were opened to the public in 1809, it was made clear to one and all that they were about to enter the "Gates of Hell." Even so, people showed up in droves to view the morbid spectacle.

The novelty of seeing human skulls arranged atop stone walls amused sightseers no end. It wasn’t long, however, before the original owners made their displeasure known at the ceaseless acts of disrespect taking place at their burial site.

Visitors complained early on that they had been shoved by someone they could not see. Others spoke of having been overcome by a choking sensation that left them struggling for air. Some who toured the catacombs were so traumatized by the experience that they suffered complete mental breakdowns.

Spectral lights, cold spots and voices that seemed to emanate from out of nowhere were also commonplace in the labyrinth of the dead. Apparitions that skulked in the shadows would occasionally join the fray, scaring the life out of unsuspecting day trippers.

Throughout the centuries, catacomb enthusiasts, known collectively as “cataphiles,” flocked to the locale. The area proved to be a magnet for the somewhat ghoulish curiosity seekers who were enamored of its dark history.

In the 1990s, a tour group came upon an abandoned video camera while exploring one of the rooms where dead bodies are contained. When the footage was played back, the recording proved far more frightening that anyone had imagined.

It wasn’t only what they saw on the tape, but what they heard that gave them reason to fear. It was clear to the listeners that the person who was filming had gotten himself lost as he made his way through the underground maze.

Presumably alone in the chamber, it was obvious by his tone that panic had begun to set in. As the tension becomes palpable, the camera suddenly falls to the ground, and everything goes silent. The man makes no effort to retrieve the device and is not heard from again.

Since the man’s face was never seen, his identity could not be established. Perhaps he was a tourist who suffered an emotional episode of some sort and, as a result, decided to discard an expensive piece of equipment. It is also possible that he met with foul play, perpetrated by someone or something unknown and his bones lay among the others that populate the catacombs. The story remains open-ended some thirty years after the fact.

Those who have explored the area say that it is a world unto itself. After descending one hundred thirty steps below street level, they are greeted by a sign that reads “Stop! This is the empire of the dead.” As disturbing as that may seem, visitors can’t say that they haven’t been warned of what is to come.

With no security guards to speak of, sightseers are left to their own devices, save for a lone guide who leads the way. Beer cans and cigarette butts litter the tombs, suggesting a shocking disregard for the solemn setting.

While some treat the rooms where remains are stored with reverence, others laugh and carry on as if they are having the time of their lives. It is a sad fact that those interred in the catacombs are not afforded the level of respect one would find in a more traditional setting.

Skulls are stacked upon bones, creating artistic, if somewhat off-putting displays. Many have been painted to make them appear more pleasing to the eye. The fact that they were once living breathing beings who cherished their lives as much as any visitor doesn’t seem to enter the equation.

It is not unheard of for tourists to help themselves to a skull or two since there is no one there to stop them. These macabre souvenirs are said to bring misfortune upon the pilferers, which some might consider poetic justice considering their callous actions.

Only a mile or so of the catacombs are open to the public, but many a scofflaw has taken it upon themselves to venture beyond the designated area. Even though it’s easy to get lost in the darkness, as Philibert Apsairt would tell you if he could, it is assumed that most eventually find their way back out. With that being said, considering the multitude of remains already present, the odd addition here or there would more than likely go unnoticed.

Today, the catacombs are much the same as they have been for hundreds of years. Dusty and smelling of old bones and incense; they are the largest underground crypt in the world. For those wishing to visit the site, be aware that the unfortunate souls whose earthly remains are on display don’t take kindly to impudence. With that said, unless you want to get on their bad side, you would do well to mind your manners.

Resources: trueghosttales.com, ranker.com, europeupclose.com, thetourguy.com, travelchannel.com, worldstrides.com, walksofitaly.com