Cave men in the Catacombs of Paris: myth or reality?

Beneath the streets of Paris lies a mysterious underworld that few people fully understand, namely the catacombs. The catacombs are a maze of tunnels and chambers filled with human remains. These catacombs have attracted the attention of historians, adventurers and urban explorers for centuries. One aspect of these catacombs is that there is a rumour that ‘cave people’ live here. Is this a legend or is there a kernel of truth behind these stories? In this blog, I will tell you more about the ‘cave people’.

The catacombs

Paris’ catacombs came into being in the late ^18th century when the city’s cemeteries became overcrowded. Millions of bones were transferred to ancient limestone mines under the city. Today, this network is more than 300 kilometers, a small part of which is only available to tourists.

Most people think the catacombs are bones of anonymous Parisians, but the catacombs have developed their own culture, namely the ‘cave people’.

Who are the ‘cave people’?

The ‘cave people’ does not refer to 1 distinct population group, but rather a community of people who use the catacombs as a home or meeting place, namely:

1. Urban explorers

These are people who enter the forbidden parts of the network through secret entrances. Some spend nights there, building rooms for parties, raves or art projects. For them, the catacombs are not a scary place, but they find it interesting to visit.

2. Homeless

It is not often that homeless people live in the catacombs, but sometimes they do. The tunnels provide shelter from the rain and cold of Paris, but conditions are not good. There is a lack of food, daylight and hygiene.

3. Urban legends

Stories about permanent residents of the catacombs are people separated from society. Although this is a myth, stories circulate that people saw shadowy figures, saw a shadow move or perform demonic rituals.

Visiting the catacombs

While the temptation may be to explore the forbidden parts on your own, it is dangerous and illegal. The public parts of the catacombs that are open to the public give an insight into this underground world. Here you can see the thousands of skulls and bones and learn about the history of this place.

Cave people: myth or reality?

The idea of residents living permanently in the catacombs is not true, but the underground network certainly has a community of people who come there. These ‘cave people’ come into these corridors to explore everything, go partying and perhaps perform rituals.

Are you curious to hear more stories about Paris and want to know all the hidden gems about this city? Then book SmartWalk Paris to experience this and walk this self-guided tour at your own pace! You can also read the blog about the best practical tips for your trip to France to be fully prepared!