Opened to the public in 1809, this subterranean wonder boasts 550,000 tourists each year and counting. Located in the 14th arrondissement of Paris, these subterranean tunnels go on for many miles, with the Catacombs only occupying a mile of the underground necropolis. Truly terrifying ghost stories and sightings abound, with many of them going unsolved.
Origins of the Catacombs
The Paris Municipal Ossuary, as it was once named, houses over six million skeletal remains, which are stored in a most uniquely artful and somewhat unsettling way. Yet, since its opening to the public, The Catacombs, a once-upon-a-time abandoned quarry, continues to be a fascinating tourist site and staple in history.
Rumored Hauntings of the Catacombs
As haunted places go, the Catacombs rank at the top of the list. From echoing whispers to strange apparitions appearing and vanishing at whim, these are merely the tip of the chilling iceberg. Another ghost story that has crept from the depths is the tragic urban legend of Philibert Aspairt, who disappeared in 1793 and whose body wasn’t discovered until over a decade later. It is said that every November 3, his ghost appears on the anniversary of his disappearance. Another chilling account is of an unknown man whose camera was discovered in the tunnels with footage of him in a troubled, disoriented state.
Underground Horror — The Movie That Inspired the Book Genre
Stemming from the 2014 film As Above, So Below, which made huge waves onscreen, the Catacombs horror book genre was set in motion. One of the first books to go mainstream, landing on USA Today and reaching #1 on Amazon’s Bestseller list, was Jeremy Bates’ The Catacombs, released the following year. From found footage and ghostly apparitions of those left behind and unable to move on to mysterious disappearances of those who ventured below but never returned, this genre is packed with horror to leave readers shivering long after the books are closed. Those who enter the Catacombs go in search for something or someone, such as in the movie where the main character seeks the philosopher’s stone in honor of her father’s mission.
Catacombs Horror Books
The Bones of Paris by Laurie R. King
Follow private investigator Harris Stuyvesant in 1929’s Paris, France, as he searches for twenty-two-year-old model and actress, Philippa Crosby. While he wholly believed he’d catch her in the arms of a lover, things take a disturbing turn that leads him down into the depths of the Parisian labyrinth, where a monster hides amid the bones of the catacombs.
The Catacombs by Jeremy Bates
Below Paris’s city of lights and romance lies underground tunnels filled with more than six million bones — among other things. When a video camera filled with mysterious images is discovered deep within the depths of the labyrinthine graveyard, a group of friends venture down to investigate. But a lighthearted trip into the Catacombs soon takes a turn when the friends collide with the evil dwelling there.
The Catacombs’ Curse by A. K. Patch
For Ezzy and Remy, they should’ve paid more attention to the instructions that read: Don’t Touch the Bones! But when the two venture on vacation to the Paris Catacombs to break away from the stresses of Remy’s banking job, Remy makes the mistake of accidentally touching a skull. Soon, he becomes delusional, thinking he’s been dead for two hundred years. Now the reborn soul of a carrier pigeon operator from 1815, who was killed for the information he possessed, is planning his revenge — and he doesn’t plan on returning the soul that found him.
Ghosts of the Catacombs by Janna Ruth
History student by day and Catacombs crawler by night, Alix finds her place and talents as a ghost whisperer among the ghosts of Paris’ tunnels. From spirits of the revolution to glowing scientists with a thirst for adventure, Alix is their go-between, helping them solve their issues with the living. But when a newly dead Catacombs tour guide comes to Alix for help locating a mysterious personal item, things get weird as Alix stumbles into a city of ghosts. Now, she’s hunted by cave crawlers and has come across haunting secrets — all of which could lead to Alix ending up as a ghost stuck in the Catacombs.
Lost in the Catacombs: Unveiling the Hidden Terror Underground by JM Creek
Follow American student Alex as he and his friends venture deep down into the underground underbelly of bones beneath Paris’ City of Lights for a rave, only to find themselves trapped within the Catacombs’ endless twisting tunnels. What’s worse is the evil entity haunting their every step. As he and his friends stumble upon one chilling horror after another, they discover a centuries-old, unsettling secret piece of disturbing history hidden within the tunnels. For Alex, surviving the never-ending labyrinth makes for a torturous feat as the lines of reality begin to blur.
The Paris Catacombs remain an intriguing underground nightmare with a wild history to compare. It’s no wonder this vast and terrifying tunnel system has been worked into a horror novel or two. So, if you’re dying for a good scare this holiday and beyond, get lost in these horror books about Paris and its frightening, skull-laden marvel.
Want to learn more about the Catacombs and other really truly terrifying places, click here. Your spine-chilling adventure awaits!
For more hair-raising tales, dare to browse our Nail-Biting YA Thrillers, Mysteries, and Horrors Reads on Bookshop.org!
