Paris and sweet dreams

Paris, the city of love, lights and dreams. I have been in love with Paris France for many years now, I haven't had the chance to get there; yet... but I will.

What first attracted me to Paris wasn't the lights or romantic stories you hear visitors tell, not even the Eiffel tower. For me, it was the Catacombs that I first heard of and was attracted to. I am a huge horror movie buff and all things supernatural so, when I had heard about the Paris Catacombs I was curious. May sound a bit strange to some but to me, that was the drawing in point.

If you take the time to learn the deep history of the Catacombs, you'll learn that it's not a pleasant history and Paris isn't all love, lights and glamour. Paris has a dark side to it, a sad, dark side.

I am going to tell you all about the Empire of death that sits below the beautiful streets of Paris where visitors clamour around shopping, eating, drinking, sightseeing... some unknowingly walking above the many twisted rows of the Catacombs below filled with the bones of the dead.

When I get interested in things, I tend to get deeply interested and like to learn everything and anything I can about it. The Catacombs are no different. I have learned so much about them and want to share it with everyone. I even had the chance to speak to a few Cataphiles online about one day exploring with them. It's very DANGEROUS to go down into the Catacombs, I do NOT suggest anyone go down alone and I do NOT suggest going in without a guide because, if you run out of batteries for your flashlights or food or water or can't find your way out, you could be another set of bones added to the thousands already down there. People HAVE gotten lost, injured and died exploring the Catacombs; I will tell you about that as well.

In the 17th century, the Paris cemeteries were overflowing, overstuffed with graves to the point when corpses, at times, would be uncovered. A solution came to light to place them in the centuries-old tunnels that had already existed below the streets of Paris since the 13th century, remnants of a time when limestone quarries were mined to build Paris into a thriving, strong city. By the time these burials ended, 6 million Parisians' bones came to their final resting place in the cities Catacombs.

Those who lived in the Les Halles neighbourhood near Les Innocents, the cities eldest and largest cemetery were among the first to start to complain, reporting that the cemetery was exuding a strong smell of decomposing flesh - even perfume shops claimed they couldn't do business because of the disgusting, off-putting smell. In 1763, Louis XV issued an edict banning all burials from occurring inside the capital, but because of Church push-back, which didn't want cemeteries disturbed, as disturbing the bodies of the dead would cause their souls to be lost and wander in between worlds forever lost and confused. You don't disrespect the resting place of the dead. King Louis XV didn't want the cemeteries disturbed or moved; nothing else was done at the time. Louis XVl, Louis XV's successor, continued the crusade, also proclaiming that all cemeteries should be moved outside Paris. It wasn't until 1780, however, that anything was done. That year, a prolonged period of spring rain caused a wall around Les Innocents to collapse, spilling the rotting corpses into a neighboring property. The city needed a better place to put it's dead.

So it went to the tunnels, moving bones from the cemeteries five stories underground into Paris' former quarries. Cemeteries began to be emptied in 1786, beginning with Les Innocents. It took the city 12 long years to move all the bones - from bodies numbering between 6 and 7 MILLION - into the Catacombs. Some of the oldest date back as far as the Merovingian era, more than 1,200 years ago.

Beginning during the French Revolution, the dead were buried directly in the Catacombs ossuaries. Some famous (or infamous) characters from history who call the Catacombs their final resting place include Jean-Paul Marat, one of the Revolution's most radical voices, and Maximilien de Robespierre, an influential figure during both the Revolution and the subsequent Reign of Terror. The city stopped moving bones into the ossuaries in 1860.

Today, a little more than a mile of the Catacombs is open for visitors to explore. The public entrance is located in Paris' 14th arrondissement, at 1, avenue de Colonel Henri Rol-Tanguy. It takes 45 minutes to walk through. Guides are available, but not required - visitors can also purchase audio guides, for 3 euros (about $4). The tunnels extend many more miles under the city, but it's illegal to visit most of the areas.

Before the entrance to the ossuary, there's an underground space used for themed exhibitions (2014's exhibit deals with Paris' geological history as an ancient sea). As visitors pass into the ossuary, they walk under a doorway with a haunting inscription above: "Arrete, c'est ici l'empire de la mort!" (Stop! This is the empire of death!). Inside the ossuary, bones are grouped by the cemeteries that they came from. Some are neatly stacked along the corridors; others arranged in patterns, creating crosses and other images. Visitors can also see sculptures in the Port-Mahon corridor created by quarryman, and veteran of Louis XV's army, years before the bodies moved in. The main sculpture is a model of the fortress of Port-Mahon, a large island town where creator, "Decure," is believed to have been held prisoner by the English during the Seven Years War.

The tunnels are open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, and cost around $11 for adults. Be sure to bring a jacket, a good camera, extra batteries and bravery. The tunnels tend to be chilly, win a constant temperature of 57° F.

Now of course, as I said prior, you can always find yourself a Cataphile. Someone who will take you down into the tunnels that are illegal to go through. But again, they're ILLEGAL! So, if you get caught down there you could end up charged and or in jail. It could possibly be worth it to some. How do you find yourself a Cataphile? I can help you with that.

Cataphiles are urban explorers who illegally tour the mines of the Paris Catacombs. The entrance to the mines is restricted. The portion open to the public (the Catacombs) is only a small part of the extensive network of underground tunnels, which spans around 280 kilometres (170 mi) in length. The tunnel system is complex, and though some tunnels have plaques indicating the name of the street above, it is easy to get lost. Some passages are low or narrow, and others are partially flooded. There are ageing telephone wires, pipes, and other impediments that can hinder progress, and cave-ins, although rare, do occasionally occur. A good guide is indispensable, and many guides occasionally refer to a map. Because of these dangers, accessing the Catacombs without official escort has been illegal since November 2nd, 1955. There is a $60 fine for people caught by the E.R.I.C - the special police who patrol the mines.

Secret entrances and exits throughout Paris, and it is sometimes possible to enter the mines via the sewers, metro and certain manholes. Some unofficial visitors hold keys to certain official entrances. On rare occasions, people use these access points and illegally enter the mines - for example, to meet clandestinely, to hold unusual parties, or simply as urban explorers.

In September 2004, the French police discovered an underground movie theatre run by Les UX - a French art movement that seeks to convey their ideas using underground places.

Cataphiles often descend for a day, a night, or perhaps a week to explore, photograph, paint murals, create maps, clean up rooms, and dig chatieres (ventilation channels).

Cataphiles (such as Renny MacLeod, who has tattooed the Catacombs of Paris on his body), cataflics, the underground movie theatre, the dis-articulated skeletons, and the Paris Catacombs' history of collapses and instability are major plot points in James Rollins' Sigma Force novel 6.5, The Skeleton Key (2010).

I titled this Paris and sweet dreams, so far there is no note of sweet dreams to what I've been writing. I am getting to that, don't worry.

So, the Catacombs as I said has such a rich, semi-dark history. To me, it's a very interesting history and then again, I am attracted to all things different and dark. Don't get me wrong, I do love more than just the Catacombs. I also like the Eiffel tower, shopping, bridge of love locks, the cafes. etc. I want to see all of it one day, and I will be going one day.

I like decorating my room with Paris decor. I buy a lot of things off Wish, which is a great site for items that aren't expensive. I recently bought some wall stickers.

I love them! I think they look good and go really well with my pillow and throw blanket. The pillow I also got off of Wish.

I also have a Paris clock, plates, figurines, etc... I don't collect everything Paris I see, I am picky. I like things that are different. things not everyone has. This is where sweet dreams come in. It's my comfort place, where I can go and relax. Where I can unwind from the day. I'm always getting more things to decorate my room. I can never have too much french decor. Being relaxed in my room, my French room, makes me feel nice and helps me have sweet dreams.