MovieChat Forums > Catacombs (2007) Discussion > People getting lost in the Paris Catacom...

People getting lost in the Paris Catacombs

posted 15 years ago by mkmkmkmkmkmkmk
14 replies | jump to latest

Truth or urban legend?

[–] KiwiAcklesFan 15 years ago

This movie was the first time I heard of Paris been built on Catacombs, what is romantic about this?

*NZ Supernatural Fan*

[–] dao54 15 years ago

People go down there everynight. Plus the police patrols from time to time. Even if you got lost, you would find help sooner or later.

[–] KiwiAcklesFan 15 years ago

Whats the total area the Catacombs span? is it really a mass underground grave?

*NZ Supernatural Fan*

[–] SimplyClassic 14 years ago

http://www.catacombes-de-paris.fr/english.htm

http://www.lulu.com/items/volume_44/670000/670842/1/print/Catacombs.pdf

The catacombs are only 185 miles...not 300+ as stated in the movie.

Yes, people have gotten lost. Yes, people have died down there, but I don't know what the most recent death was. I read one recorded in the 18th century.

Most recently, in September 2004 an underground amphitheatre was discovered when police raided a hidden chamber only to discover a full-sized cinema screen, projection equipment, couches and a library of 1950s film noir classics and modern thrillers, all discovered in an uncharted cavern. Professionally installed electricity and three phone lines, as well as a nearby cave converted into an informal bar and restaurant with tables and chairs, even a pressure cooker for “making couscous,” were discovered by investigating officials.

When police returned to the scene three days later, the cavern was empty, the phone and electricity lines had been cut and a note was left in the middle of the cavern floor, reading, “Do not try to find us.” Undaunted, French officials traced the evidence back to the “Mexican Perforation,” an artistic group seeking expression of their ideals in underground places.

[–] KiwiAcklesFan 14 years ago

Wow so the film was loosly based on that group maybe? sounds very intriging it would be thrilling to explore such a place...

*NZ Supernatural Fan*

[–] I_Guard_Tanelorn 14 years ago

So far as I know, the catacombs in Paris are by no means endless miles of fun gothic tunnels one can wander for a lifetime. They're mostly sealed off and here and there there's little pockets where one can gain access to a few chambers and tunnels from above. You have as much chance getting lost there as in Mike Cripkie's basement.

http://www.movingimagesource.us/articles/the-middle-word-in-life-20100 406

[–] dmfaust 14 years ago

The New York underground is probably a million times worse than Paris Catacombs. Even setting aside the urban legends there is some crazy stuff going on with the old tunnels. I think this movie was more playing off the fact it is a mass grave(reality) than an endless labyrinth(contrivance).

[–] jackfrusciante80 14 years ago

catacombs was the best $8 I spent in Paris :P

[–] caz666 14 years ago

hope its still open when i go there in feb, cant wait to see them :)
i wish they really had parties down there like in the film, gr8 atmosphere for a gothic metal concert and party.

[–] jackfrusciante80 14 years ago

i am sure it will be open, bones do not go on strike, unlike the rest of paris.

I had a bit of difficult time finding the place, but once you find it, it's pretty cool. There was a nice little cafe souvenir shop when you exit, the guy that ran it was pretty nice and helpful (unlike most frenchmen I met : P)

[–] hansenmv2002 10 years ago

national geographic feb 2011

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2011/02/table-of-contents

Springfield Sperm Bank "Put your sperm in our hands"

[–] slainzcasl 10 years ago

There are 200 miles of tunnels. You could easily get lost.

[–] Zargabath 14 years ago

I hope you guys realize that there's 2 things completly different here.

You can visit the "catacombs" with souvenir shop, etc etc. which is friendly and touristic.

And there's all the restricted catacombs were you can't go in. Entrances are locked and known by only a small group of people. If u manage to find one of those entrance, then its a your own risk. There's no light inside, if u ran out of batteries, you're dead.

Check on youtube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5MIzoHOyfQ&feature=related

[–] CartmanRocks 12 years ago

Like squall said, there's the catacombs that are open to the public for a fee and the catacombs (aka the Mines of Paris) that are sealed off to the public. The former is essentially a room or several rooms that you can walk through where the walls are composed entirely of skulls and other bones. The latter are also known as the catacombs (although the correct name is the Mines of Paris), which is close to 200 miles of limestone tunnels that date back to the time of the Roman Empire. These tunnels are incredibly dangerous, as they are essentially a maze. There is NO lighting down there, so if your flashlight runs out of batteries you are plunged into pitch blackness and you can never find your way out. In addition, depending on how "deep" you have gone into the catacombs, you can be as far as 300 feet underground.

In the 1700s, when Paris cemeteries were overflowing, they exhumed all of the old graves and dumped nearly 7 million bodies into the old limestone tunnels, which were not in use. Many of those bones are to be seen in the bone walls of the tourist attraction catacombs, but the rest can be found strewn about the tunnels, sometimes filling entire rooms.

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