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i went to france they told me about aplace where people went in but they never came out,i resurched the cattacomes and found out that it was a safe house for vampires. some people there still beleave that the vampires still live there and if a persion goes in that they become food for thim,as i walked thrue i saw the remanes in there of a lot of people so i turned around.

so what i want to know is if you think that what i found out is just a mith or if it was true

The Catacombs in France are where they place the dead...instead of graves or tombs above ground.


American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This cat·a·comb (kāt'ə-kōm') Pronunciation Key
n.
An underground cemetery consisting of chambers or tunnels with recesses for graves. Often used in the plural.
An underground, often labyrinthine passageway.


[Probably French catacombe, from Old French, from Late Latin catacumba.]

In the old histories of France, they had bedtime stories for their young...Just as Americans have the boogeyman. Their stories consisted of the vampires. Those beings that existed beneath france, who only came out at night to prey upon the unsuspecting.

The Catacombs even though they are burial chambers of the past, the old fashioned families always warned their young not to tarry to far from the surface or they might become food for the undead.

The truth was, they made the stories for the sake of desecration of the chambers.

Now-a-days, anyone can easily access the catacombs or take tours of them. The tours website is as follows...

Paris Underground Tours

Enjoy.

If you get lost exploring the depths of catacombs of course there’s a good chance you’ll never be seen again. Remember tourist attractions have to have some sort of hype to make them exciting and attract paying visitors.

I have met a couple groups of people that have explored the French catacombs and I have explored ones in Italy. All of them have their unique “ghost” stories and I doubt any of them have anything to do with Vampires. Unless you call the punks charging you an “arm and a leg” to go into the catacombs, vampires. Ok, bad attempt at a joke.

There have been shows about the catacombs on National Geographic, Discovery, History channels. There are tours to certain tunnels and chambers even now. Rome also has catacombs and other cities.

Tunnels of the dead, and played various parts throughout history with hiding and using them to get around to various parts of the city.

There are groups that can practically run miles of the catacombs without light because they spend so much of their time down there.

Well like it was previously stated. Most places used to place the dead in an above ground burial house so to speak. That could have been what you found.

Google catacomb images is your friend. Try Paris, Rome, and others to complete your search.

Here are a couple of images from the Paris catacombs. Mind you, there are miles and miles of these and different levels as well.



These images should help to give you a visual of just a small fraction of these amazing tunnels and just the amount of bones to be seen stacked.



One last image. The construction of the walls and arches are simply amazing and so much of an unknown wonder of the ancient world, at least in my mind.

From showcaves.com a quickie description:

Like most cities, at least in Europe, Paris has huge subterranean cavities, built in 2000 years of history for many purposes: quarries, religious hideout, beer cellars, subways and bunkers. Most of the excavations are located at the base of the three "mountains": Montparnasse, Montrouge and Montsouris. There are approximately 300km of galleries all together, not all of them are connected. The most extended connected system of tunnels is located under the 5th, 6th and 14th districts, and is about 100km long.

The name catacombs is derived from the usage as graves. (see catacombs) This name is sometimes used for all the underground caverns of Paris, but the tourist spot, open to the public, are the graves. They do not really promote them to tourists, but they are open to the public.

At the end of the 18th century, the government began converting several subterranean rooms into mass graves. This was necessary to meet desperate overcrowding in the medieval cemeteries in the center of Paris, which also became a hygienic problem. From 1785 to 1786, in 15 months, millions of bones and rotting corpses were transported from the unsanitary city cemetery in Les Halles to this place. It was a monumental project to transport the bones in huge carts at night across the city.

And here they are, in huge piles, arranged as crosses, as faces and in other different configurations. Above the door outside are the words (in French): Stop! This is the empire of death. This bone collection of 5 to 6 million people has 11,000m².

Just before the Revolution, Charles X threw wild parties in the catacombs. During World War II the French Resistance set up its headquarters here. Today modern troglodytes (cave dwellers) again have parties in the underground. There are raves and restaurants, and of course all kind of subculture you may imagine. Regular patrol of the police is futile, as there are virtually hundreds of kilometers of underground tunnels.

The catacombs in france was also the home of the phantom of the opera(the character from the orginal book which was supposedly a real person) tp hide from thus that would condemn him to death because of the way he looked.

There was also a discovery the catacombs of 2 skeletons. one of which was a femle and the other was male with a obvious deformities to the back and legs though the could tell that this skeleton in life would have had great strength because of the muslces that would have been on this body when It was alive. they could tell that this individual was acustomed to great physical labour ( the Hunchback of Notre Dame if you hadn't guessed already)

Ther are also parts of the catacombs that were used as escape tunnel for the french during WWII and there are rumors that the Royals of France used to used them as a possibly escape route if the palace was ever attacked.

The Catacombs are extensive and most are excessable anymore because thy have collapsed or are now full of water

I remember seeing a documentary on catacombs on the History Channel. Fascinating things, these catacombs, lined with the skeletal remains of humans (as shown in the pictures above) and full of cultural history.

from www.catacombe.roma.it regarding the catacombs below the ancient city of Rome:

The catacombs of St. Callixtus are among the greatest and most important of Rome. They originated about the middle of the second century and are part of a cemeterial complex which occupies an area of 90 acres, with a network of galleries about 12 miles long, in four levels, more than twenty meters deep.
In it were buried tens of martyrs, 16 popes and very many Christians.

They are named after the deacon Callixtus who, at the beginning of the third century, was appointed by pope Zephyrinus as the administrator of the cemetery and so the catacombs of St. Callixtus became the official cemetery of the Church of Rome.

In the open area are two small basilicas with three apses, known as the "Trichorae". In the Eastem one were perhaps laid to rest pope Zephyrinus and the young martyr of the Eucharist, St. Tarcisius.

The underground cemetery includes several areas. The Crypts of Lucina and the area of the Popes and of St. Cecilia are the most ancient areas (2nd c.). The other areas are named after St. Miltiades (half of the 3rd c.), St. Gaius and St. Eusebius (end of 3rd c.), the Western Area (first half of the 4th c.) and the Liberian Area (second half of 4th c.).

I belive it is a myth. It is more likely it was used for protection in wars etc

I doubt people don't come out because of 'vampires'. But because of the miles of twisting and turns passage ways and darkness that you'll eventually lose your way.

Its a myth because vampires are a myth

Regardless of whether or not its a myth I still think they are cool and would live to visit there. Any part of history is a fascination to me.

Your story would make a good movie......oh wait there is all ready one it's called "Interview With the Vampire".

These catacombs that all of you have referenced here would be a prime place for ghost hunting.

Thank you, all, for the information. Of course the catacombs in France are infamous. I for one, think of France when someone says "catacombs" or "obliete". Ah the darkness and history of Europe has a certain thrill to it. Being in Iraq has its avantages, historic places. Thou I am not here on holiday.

The Idea of the Catacombs are fascinating. Anne Rice Used them in her books but no they harbor nothing more then long dead people.

Sounds like they took a grave site and turned it into a vampire tourist trap.

Would not be the first time something like that has been done.

Quite cool if you felt creeped out to where you had to leave...

it is a myth, the catacombes are not a safe"house" they are simply tombs.

Did anyone READ what I put down? There are miles of tunnels and millions of peoples' bones under Paris and Rome, as well as other cities throughout Europe.

Just google and read all there is about them. There are tours for a portion of the catacombs under Paris.. would take days to go through all of the tunnels.

What did you actually see?

The catacombs that are in Paris are remains of he bodies that were from the plague. There were so many people that died then that they had to unearth the remains of everyone and place them somewhere else. The cemeteries filled up quick in that time period so this was the solution.

As for it being a myth with vampires, very unlikely. As NocaMora stated, people could get lost in their because of how long the passages are. Personally I have seen them and they only let visitors go in so far becauseof the fear of getting lost.

They are also very pretty to see.

i was there as well..

catacombes are realy a milions of tunnels just like some said here. and if people haven't came out it would be one of the good explanation they got lost and died. it's pretty creepy down there if you don't know where you're going. that's why the tours are guided.
if you're on your own and don't know the place it's soooo easy for you to get lost. and when your battery is out.....
hmm..well you know what then happens. even harder for you to get out..

From the show I've seen, there is a whole society of catacomb people that know the 300 kilometers of tunnels and can find their way in the dark. Amazes me.

I think it's just hype to get more visitors.

I only recently learned about the Paris catacombs. I ran across an article about them in a book about such things in Barnes and Noble. Not only do people have raves down there, but an amazing underground movie theater was built. It's been found, now, and isn't used, anymore, but the picture was amazing. This is yet another place I'd like to visit.

I agree with the previous posters that people would get lost and use the myth of the vampire to justify the deaths to create stories.

I think it is mostly a myth...but I dont blame you for turning around! LOL I wouldnt want to be in that either!

You can visit them without fear!
It`s a fascinating place.The plague victims are interesting.

I think the catacombs of Paris and the catacombs of Rome were used as a source of inspiration for Anne Rice when she wrote about the satanic vampire sects beneath the cities or around the Cemetier des Innocents.

Wow, I actually remember learning about the Catacombs in a History class last year, and ever since then I've always wanted to visit them! And someday I will!

-Wishful thinking-

But the history behind these tombs is so vast, I can't help but feel the allure to see everything for myself.

The Catacombs is one hell of a freaky place. I have visited it once, and I don't want to go back. I think a lot of the place is cut off for the public for it's paranormal activity and whatnot. That and a lot of the area is still very graphic and vile with all those bodies there.

One way or another, that place is certainly one hell of a scary maze.

I have been to the Catacombs in France.

As was already state - It has NOTHING to do with vampires at all.

The Catacombs are tombs - When the plague struck France, they didn't have enough room to bury all the bodies~So they put them underground.

The Catacombs are VAST... stretching beneath almost all of Paris.

It's a humbling place ... It reminds you how weak humans really are... How fragile.

And, to be quite frank, it's bloody scary. And dark... And it feels as though the skulls are staring at you... It does smell ... Very musty and dank...
And I felt very uncomfortable... I felt like I was disrespecting the dead that were resting there...

It is true that people have tried to explore the Catacombs alone and got lost, and were never found again.

That's why if you do go, you need to to have a guide who is credible.

There are maps, but they are often unreliable, and there's no easy way to find your way back...
There was a case where a man went alone with a video camera... he never came back. They sent search teams but never found him... Just his camera. ?_?

as with any myth there is always some truth to it so who knows. I doubt that if there were Vampires down there that they would leave the bones of their victims that close to the entrance as it would scare off people not bring more food to them, just a thought.

I've always wanted to visit the catacombs, but they give guided tours in certain places.

I think its myth. The catacombs where designed to discourage grave robbers. Its easy to go inside and get lost. Then you become like everything else underground. Dead.

I'm with xDeadxRosesx. very musty, dank, also the champagne distilleries are in some of the catacombs. Have no idea what they did with the skulls.

There are also people living in some of the caves there, but their names are not coming to me right now. they're kinda like condos.

Troglodytes. The caves and the people living in them are called Troglodytes.

I'll see if I can find something on them.

the catacombs are a place for the dead and depending on the amount of decay a lot of the time bodys where just pilled down in the tunnels because the dieing out numbered the ones dealing with the body removal.

It's not the vampires that will get you. It's being lost for days in those tunnels.

I do remember seeing several empty chambers... Where there were human remains at one point, but no one knows what happened to them? Creepy! ((I think the tour guide was just trying to scary us, but yeah))
I started to get claustrophobic, and hot... Lucky after that we left! >.>;;

More than likely there ARE some more uncivilized vampire living in the catacombs.

it sound interresting indeed and i am sure that there might be some thing in it but we will never know untill someone goes in and come out to tell us all what they have found, i know that i sure would go just to find out.

I have seen a few documentaries on this. After it was built it has been used for many evil things. Or at least that is what stories say. So yes I think that people could be killed down there. as for vampires using it as a feeding ground....It would be a good place to do that so I guess it''s possible.

I don't see why anyone should be afraid to go. Just don't go into the tunnels with out a guide. You won't get lost... and the "Vampires" wont hurt you.

that is a very interesting theory. Gives us all something to think about. It would be fun to believe that it is true however I tend to agree with the citations about it being an underground grave site.

I highly doubt catacomb are feeding grounds for vampires. I imagine that most people who die in the catacombs today are kids or tourist who go seeking an adventure and get lost in the maze.

Sorry my images are gone - thought this thread would have been closed by now.

The catacombs are what they are - intriguing and interesting and dangerous if you do not know where you are. There are whole groups of people that do nothing but map it out and explore - what of them that are open for that.

They are pretty policed with the various openings known to people

but as vampire feeding grounds - a good basis for a good bit of writing ;)

Indeed - It is an inspiring place for a story or poem~
I wrote a few.

Honestly, I believe that no one wants to really explore down there because of the stories... or because it's a place of death.

I mean, I won't lie, I was a bit scared at first. But atually getting down there, and seeing it... I was intrigued. I have a thing about human remains - I don't like disrespecting those who have died... And I felt as though I was. But I didn't get that feeling wile down there.

And really, it's PITCH BLACK. The tour guide showed us the tunnels leading into further parts of the tunnels, and it's BLACK... Almost like staring into dark water.

So that's another factor - Getting lost, and losing battery power in flashlights... The air is stale... Yeah.

And the way the air flows through those tunnels, you hear all kinds noises that one could mistake for things moving about... Rats scuffling, voices from above, antyhing can be carried throught there.
I can understand if someone mistook those noises for vampires lurking~

So you know from first hand experience - very nice.

There are people that can go around in the total blackness. Of course without any source of light down there - you could not see your hand in front of your face. There is a completel subculture of just catacomb people

I was going to make a thread on this, too bad you already beat me to it.

It's pretty interesting though as for them... it's a shrine and homage, not horrific or strange.

I've been there and Loved it!
There was a guy at the end checking bags so you couldnt steal any bones or skulls, they have blocked of areas cause people were getting lost down there!

its suppose to be littered with human bones too

I'm sure it's just a myth... I myself wouldn't want to miss the opportunity to visit them.. sound like an awesome adventure..

vampires living in the catacombs? no. but because of the miles and miles of dark tunnels, its easy for a person to lose their way

I'd agree with NocnaMora. The dark combined with twisting levels and passage ways would confuse many people.

((Sorry about all the typos in my last post!))

As far as the way the Catacombs looks...
The walls are lined with stacks of skulls and bones... They aren't "littered" about, but neatly stacked.

I also forgot to mention that in the places you are allowed to visit there are little plaques on the walls with numbers - For the people who had to stack the bones to make their way through the tunnels. Many of them have faded.

And they do check bags and coats too! people would indeed try to steal the bones.

I do think there are people living down there... They would have to come up for supplies eventually.

But again, all the entrances/exits aren't known...

Here is a link for the catacombs in Paris http://www.catacombes-de-paris.fr/english.htm

I so want to go too.

Great post Dead.

But yes, many of the entrances and exits are guarded or lost.

I think it's a myth as well

well to be honest I dont know much about the catacombs...

but I always thought that vampires couldnt not feed off the dead...

and also...what about the fact people could have taken the bodies and sold them to sciencist?...alot of that was done in the olden days...

Tempress -

I think they meant people who venture into the catacombs.

I saw these on a tv show called getaway here in Aus and they were doing tours of the catacombs. They did say that the catacombs were vast and you could easily get lost. So I suppose those areas you could find a vamp or two... but why would they want to lurk and wait in a catacomb for a victim?

Sounds like a tourist trap to me. But after reading it I would go sounds cool

it may not be either they are tunnels of graves and people could get lost in a tunnel like that and not return because they did get taken as pry or just because they couldn't find their way out and become one of the dead.