The dark art of the Parisian catacombs

There are a number of ossuaries in the catacombs. A crisis of space in the 18th century resulted in the emptying of Parisian cemeteries, with the bones of some six million people relocated underground.

A sculpture in the Paris catacombs known as the 'Passe Muraille'. Carved by 'cataphiles' – the name for those who illicitly frequent the deeper catacombs – it was inspired by a French fairy tale about a man who misuses his power to walk through walls to steal and seduce. He loses his power mid-transition and becomes trapped.

This sculpture lies in a room filled with sculptures and mosaics called Salle de Belier - named due to a large depiction of a ram also in the room. Many of the works in the catacombs are by sculpture students who use the soft sedimentary rock to practice their craft.

One of the entrances into the catacombs is accessed via an abandoned railway - The Petite Ceinture. This abandoned railway has become a popular spot for Parisians. Much of it has been transformed into a public space, but large sections still remain abandoned. Note the carbide lamp to the right: the preferred method of illumination in the catacombs for the warm quality of their light.

There are many sculptures in the catacomb system, where the soft limestone has been carved into all manner of shapes and forms.

The train tunnel houses a secret chatiere (cat flap) which leads into the catacombs, and is a popular entrance for cataphiles.

Another example of the sculptures in the catacombs. Some of the sculptures that dot the chambers of the network are as old as the network itself, and were built by those who fortified the chambers. Others are newer.