Who are the people going undercover in the Parisian catacombs?

Raves, exploratory excursions, or even raclette parties, cataphiles descend beneath Paris for various reasons. Their misunderstood and often misinterpreted intentions make their community a mystery that frightens many. Paris, resembling a massive piece of Swiss cheese, is actually perforated by over 300 kilometers of underground galleries. These ossuaries form a gigantic labyrinth where it is easy to get lost if you are not an experienced "cataphile". The evocative term "catacombs" was quickly attributed to these galleries, although they are not burial sites. Their history is quite different. These vast underground streets extend under the concrete of the Left Bank, between Odéon and the Montsouris Park, and under some neighborhoods of the Right Bank, such as Belleville, Montmartre, and Ménilmontant. An appellation of non-controlled origin... But what history lies beneath these mysterious underground passages? «I think most people absolutely do not care about the activities underground and do not consider the whole history that the catacombs represent,» said the cataphile we managed to interview.

Since the Gallo-Roman era, the inhabitants of Lutetia built their homes with the stone they extracted from the subsoil. A large part of the Paris catacombs thus served as quarries for the Gauls. At the time, these quarries were still active, making the use of other building materials for structures unnecessary. Centuries later, these underground passages took on a new function. In 1786, Parisian cemeteries were emptied for public health reasons. Not knowing what to do with the bones of six million deceased, it was decided to store them about twenty meters underground, in the former quarries. These then took the name "catacombs", in reference to the underground necropolises of ancient Rome. The "official" part of these underground quarries is located in the 14th arrondissement of Paris, near Denfert Rochereau Square. This part extends only 1.7 kilometers and is just a tiny part of the entire underground labyrinth. The "hidden" or "forbidden" part of the catacombs thus retains its share of mysteries...

«Cataphiles are a community of people who gather in the catacombs for the same interests: exploration, renovation/improvement of the places, parties, or events specific to these underground passages like cata-clean, cata-carnival, cata-sprint... Their primary motivations for descending illegally, in my opinion, would be curiosity, adrenaline, and passion. Indeed, they find themselves in the construction foundations of Paris, in galleries dug by humans, filled with stories and life.»

That is why we decided to interview this seasoned cataphile, who chose to remain anonymous for personal reasons, to support our research on the subject. Since the 1970s, many curious individuals have ventured beyond the Denfert underground. Although it is prohibited because it is dangerous, descending into the catacombs has become common. Some became passionate about these underground passages and explored the galleries. It is indeed preferable to be passionate if you wish to risk it, with police, unfortunate encounters, rising waters..., all this 20 meters underground (therefore lower than the sewers and the metro), at 14 degrees and in near-religious silence. Exploring these old quarries is certainly not a walk in the park for everyone. Our company explains, «There is a risk of a €60 fine if caught by the police during a descent. As for physical risks, one can get injured descending a ladder, during a fall for example, in a poorly taken crawl space, hitting their head when the ceiling is too low, or tripping or sometimes falling into a hole.» In any case, these quarries plunge us into another world where you can discover rooms over 200 years old, such as Philibert Aspairt's tomb, the Val-de-Grâce doorman who never found his way back in 1793. Among the must-see rooms, there is the "Z room", astonishing with its Romanesque-style vaults, and "the beach", a recent room with a floor strewn with sand where cataphiles like to organize parties. Finally, the "castle room" was vandalized in the past but has since been restored, to the delight of cataphiles. This room houses various gargoyle sculptures, benches, and a table. At the back of this room stands a beautiful reconstruction of a medieval castle.

«I haven't participated in many major events in the catacombs. Of course, underground raves are part of it, they are some of my most impressive nights I would say, but not memorable! The most memorable are the exploration nights, where we discover real treasures like magnificent rooms we didn't know before,» our contact tells us about these "parties" or "raves" organized underground. We understand that in reality, these parties are not something recurring and representative of the cataphile community. She adds, «Generally, these parties are spread by word of mouth and are quite difficult to access. We always try to organize a rave in a large room so that it is at least a bit airy in case there are a lot of people, or to facilitate an evacuation.»

Cataphiles can gather for different activities, which is why there are several names, "the tourists" to initiate new interested parties, "cata-clean", "cata-sprints", "orienteering races", and "tractofolies" (nights where leaflets are exchanged to get to know different groups). Some unwritten rules are known by cataphiles, such as never telling the time, calling the ceiling "the sky", not giving their surface names but their chosen underground nicknames, and not littering. This last rule is highly respected and often, it is the tourists who cause damage. That is why there are "Cata-clean" who voluntarily clean the catacombs. In the end, «they are like you and me,» our contact makes us understand. There are no satanic meetings, wandering madmen, or neo-Nazi gatherings as the media try to convince us. Just people in search of freedom and discovery.