T Catacombs Paris famous underground ossuary Paris, France. Organized renovated section city's network subterranean tunnels caverns towards 18 century, became tourist attraction small scale early 19 century, p public regular basis 1867.

T cemetery covers portion Paris' former mines L Bank's Place Denfert-Rochereau, location j outside y gates before Paris expanded 1860. Although cemetery covers y small section underground tunnels officially called " carrières Paris" (" quarries Paris"), Parisians today popularly refer entire network " catacombs".

M Paris' larger churches their cemeteries, y growth generations began overwhelm . F seventeenth century, Paris' largest L Innocents cemetery ( L Halles district middle y) saturated point where neighbors suffering disease, contamination caused y improper burials, p graves, earth charged decomposing organic matter.

After almost century ineffective decrees condemning cemetery, finally decided create three large-scale suburban cemeteries condemn existing within y limits; remains condemned cemeteries would moved discreetly renovated section Paris' abandoned quarries. T depleted quarries storage bones, based Police Lieutenant General Alexandre Lenoir, established 1786 y successor, M. Thiroux Crosne, under direction Charles Ax Guillaumot, Inspector General Quarries.

Remains cemetery Saint-Nicolas--Champs among first moved. Bodies riots Place Grève, Hotel Brienne, R Meslee p catacombs August 28 August 29, 1788.

T catacomb walls covered graffiti dating eighteenth century onwards. Victor Hg knowledge about tunnel system L Misérables. I 1871 communards killed group monarchists chamber. During World W II, Parisian members French Resistance tunnel system. A during period, German soldiers established underground bunker catacombs below Lycée Montaigne, g school 6 arrondissement. (T bunker tourist route y during "unauthorized visit".)

T underground tunnels chambers g posed safety problems construction Paris. Quarries sometimes , occasionally resulting ground above causing damage buildings. T prevent this, IGC, Inspection générale Carrières (General Inspection Quarries) established 1777 y government order monitor current quarries prohibit digging quarries. T IGC , however, g observation tunnels order provide themselves better access quarries y might better monitor, repair, p consolidated quarries.

T monitoring consolidation continued y. Because number quarries, subway tunnels, train tunnels sewer tunnels g underneath Paris, softness stone involved, extra caution taken construction attempted tunnels g. However, prevent problems during digging Paris Métro L 14.