I have been down there, and not in the tourist section. There is some interesting stuff, especially where cataphiles have excavated new sections. The diverse array of art down there is also really nice. Unfortunately the bone rooms have pretty much all been desecrated and a vastly different from their original state. You can see a sort of 'high tide' mark on the walls where the level of the bones were, and the current level which in many places is at least one meter lower. This is for example in a radius 2m circular pit (which I crawled through). Apparently people just take bones home for fun (?). There is also a big throne made from long bones that have been tied together, there are many photos online. All in all a pretty cool place, I will visit again. Highlight was definitely my host cooking cheese fondue in an excavated dining hall.
A Three-Day Expedition To Walk Across Paris Underground
11–20 of 27 posts
Re: A Three-Day Expedition To Walk Across Paris Underground
#12I have been down there, and not in the tourist section. There is some interesting stuff, especially where cataphiles have excavated new sections. The diverse array of art down there is also really nice. Unfortunately the bone rooms have pretty much all been desecrated and a vastly different from their original state. You can see a sort of 'high tide' mark on the walls where the level of the bones were, and the curren…
I'd guess most "new sections" are just part of the Mines/Catacombs of Paris whose access was previously blocked by the official organisation in charge of them, the Inspection générale des carrières.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inspection_g%C3%A9n%C3%A9rale_...
Re: A Three-Day Expedition To Walk Across Paris Underground
#13I have been down there, and not in the tourist section. There is some interesting stuff, especially where cataphiles have excavated new sections. The diverse array of art down there is also really nice. Unfortunately the bone rooms have pretty much all been desecrated and a vastly different from their original state. You can see a sort of 'high tide' mark on the walls where the level of the bones were, and the curren…
I'd guess most "new sections" are just part of the Mines/Catacombs of Paris whose access was previously blocked by the official organisation in charge of them, the Inspection générale des carrières. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inspection_g%C3%A9n%C3%A9rale_...
Maybe. I definitely saw people digging though, and I went through large sections that were newly dug. This was in 2014. Also, sometimes new building foundations are cut into the existing tunnels, and new tunnels are also dug into building foundations. Interestingly, the cataphiles I spoke to strongly 'discouraged' theives from entering buildings in this way. Something about not drawing undue attention from authorities.
Re: A Three-Day Expedition To Walk Across Paris Underground
#14Earlier quoted context omitted.
I'd guess most "new sections" are just part of the Mines/Catacombs of Paris whose access was previously blocked by the official organisation in charge of them, the Inspection générale des carrières. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inspection_g%C3%A9n%C3%A9rale_...
Maybe. I definitely saw people digging though, and I went through large sections that were newly dug. This was in 2014. Also, sometimes new building foundations are cut into the existing tunnels, and new tunnels are also dug into building foundations. Interestingly, the cataphiles I spoke to strongly 'discouraged' theives from entering buildings in this way. Something about not drawing undue attention from authoritie…
I heard that story of authorities blocking some tunnels and cataphiles removing the blocks from someone who went down there; I don't know how widespread it was.
Re: A Three-Day Expedition To Walk Across Paris Underground
#15Earlier quoted context omitted.
I've always kinda admired the French disregard for red traffic lights. Seems for feasible for pedestrians than cars, though^^
This is a stunt though, and people had been posted at junctions with little visibility. But otherwise, it's not the first time I hear a comment similar to yours but I'm always surprised because I have never ever seen anyone willfully disregard a red traffic light in France. It seems to me that they are taken much more seriously than they are in for example the US (where it's not rare to see one or two cars getting th…
Only one, apparently, and their radio broke: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C%27%C3%A9tait_un_rendez-vous#...
Re: A Three-Day Expedition To Walk Across Paris Underground
#16Earlier quoted context omitted.
I have always wondered about the fire safety of these events, gathering large numbers of people in spaces not originally intended for that and with (I imagine) unusual constraints on planning mass exits. Do you happen to know whether the fire safety aspect gets scrutinized?
Nothing gets scrutinized - it's illegal to go down there anyway. Folks down there are not always safety conscious or very responsible :o) Sometimes there are parties with tens or over a hundred people in a big room that only has two crawl holes to exit it. About fire safety, well it's pretty damp down there, mostly with rocks and dirt. Can't picture a whole room catching fire... But I'm no expert in fire safety.
Gas leak... depending on how far down you are, old gas lines tend to leak little bits of gas because they get porous that can pool.
Re: A Three-Day Expedition To Walk Across Paris Underground
#17I had the chance to go in an underground party in Paris and this was really awesome. Despite being winter it was warm inside the tunnel network. Without our artificial lights we could experience total dark like. The room we stay at had been expanded and decorated by a group of cataphiles and was designed to handle candles which gave an even more great ambiance.
I have always wondered about the fire safety of these events, gathering large numbers of people in spaces not originally intended for that and with (I imagine) unusual constraints on planning mass exits. Do you happen to know whether the fire safety aspect gets scrutinized?
can't believe this gets downvoted
Re: A Three-Day Expedition To Walk Across Paris Underground
#18And the 8-minute above-ground version: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WJYOMFayruw
I've always kinda admired the French disregard for red traffic lights. Seems for feasible for pedestrians than cars, though^^
It works fine for cars too as long as everyone has equal disregard! See: Southeast Asia.
Re: A Three-Day Expedition To Walk Across Paris Underground
#19Earlier quoted context omitted.
I have always wondered about the fire safety of these events, gathering large numbers of people in spaces not originally intended for that and with (I imagine) unusual constraints on planning mass exits. Do you happen to know whether the fire safety aspect gets scrutinized?
Nothing gets scrutinized - it's illegal to go down there anyway. Folks down there are not always safety conscious or very responsible :o) Sometimes there are parties with tens or over a hundred people in a big room that only has two crawl holes to exit it. About fire safety, well it's pretty damp down there, mostly with rocks and dirt. Can't picture a whole room catching fire... But I'm no expert in fire safety.
In a place with sufficiently tight exits like the crawl holes you mentioned, it is enough if there is a little smoke to cause a panic. People will die from being trampled even if there is no actual danger from the fire.
Re: A Three-Day Expedition To Walk Across Paris Underground
#20Earlier quoted context omitted.
I've always kinda admired the French disregard for red traffic lights. Seems for feasible for pedestrians than cars, though^^
This is a stunt though, and people had been posted at junctions with little visibility. But otherwise, it's not the first time I hear a comment similar to yours but I'm always surprised because I have never ever seen anyone willfully disregard a red traffic light in France. It seems to me that they are taken much more seriously than they are in for example the US (where it's not rare to see one or two cars getting th…
_So many_ people are running red lights in Paris, there's been a huge increase in the past year or so. I think it's mainly food delivery service scooters.