Scary Tales of The Catacombs of Paris

Explore one of Paris’ most haunted destinations with this tour featuring stories and legends about the Catacombs’ chilling past. Don’t forget to bring a flashlight!

Take your flashlight and follow along with a knowledgeable tour guide on an eerie journey through the catacombs of Paris, one of the city’s most haunting and mysterious places. Hear tales of chilling ghostly encounters and uncanny moments throughout history as you venture deeper into these damp, dark corridors.

Arrête! C’est ici l’empire de la Mort

This is the sign that greets you when you are entering the catacombs. It means: Stop! This is the empire of Death. And it certainly is.

The Catacombs of Paris, or l’Ossuaire Municipal, are an ancient network of tunnels located beneath the streets of Paris that date back to the Roman period. It used to be an underground quarry to get stone to build the city on top of it.

Over time, the city began to outgrow its ancient cemeteries, and in the late 1780s officials began a project to move millions upon millions of bones and remains into the quarries deep beneath the streets. These bones comprise much of what is now known as “the Catacombs” in reference to the underground necropolis in Rome and represent centuries worth of Parisian history and houses now the graves of 6 million people.

Tales of Terror from Paris’s Underworld

People have been telling tales of terror from the Catacombs of Paris for centuries. From ghostly figures spotted in the shadows to strange noises and apparitions, these chilling stories of paranormal activity are sure to leave you shuddering. There’s also said to be a secret chamber deep within the catacombs that hints at an even more ominous past — although no one knows what lies beyond its entrance.

Philibert Aspairt Ghost

One of the scariest tales associated with the Catacombs is that of Philibert Aspairt, a 62 year old hospital worker at Val-de-Grâce hospital who disappeared in November of 1793 during the French Revolution. He entered the catacombs via a staircase in the hospital courtyard, but his motive for going in is unclear.

Many say that he was going to fetch a particular liquor, was drunk himself and ended up getting lost in the maze of corridors. When his light went out it was impossible to find out from the catacombs.

Rumor has it that his body was discovered in the Catacombs in 1804, nearly 11 years later in one of the quarry galleries where he was identified by the key ring belonging to the hospital, but the cause of death was never determined.

The tragedy doesn’t end there as according to legend, Aspairt’s ghost continues to haunt the underground labyrinth to this day.

Legends of the Catacombs

The Catacombs of Paris are not just filled with bones, but also stories and legends that have been passed down for centuries. From tales of mysterious creatures lurking in the tunnels to sightings of the ghost of a monk and others, those brave enough to explore the Catacombs may never know what they might encounter.