Catacombs in Paris

In 1785, a decision was made to evacuate the cemetery of the Innocents, which had been located for more than ten centuries in the heart of Paris in the Les Halles area.
Between 1786 and 1788, the bones were transported from the cemetery down into the carrières, ancient chambers and tunnels under the city. The bones and skulls were carefully laid down in galleries, according to the morbid yet poetic drawings. From this date forth, the Catacombs of Paris aroused great curiosity and enthusiasm.
In 1787 the Count of Artois came to visit the catacombs, and nearly a century later, it was the turn of Napoleon III to visit in 1860. Even today, the Parisian catacombs arouse curiosity among visitors and residents alike.