Metal Insider is getting into the Halloween spirit this year with something a little different. Throughout October, we’re sharing the history and eerie tales behind venues across the world. Checkout our latest column, Halloween Countdown for more, and Enjoy!
Introduction
Beneath the streets of Paris lies a hidden city of bones, the Catacombs. What started as ancient limestone quarries, dug up to build the city’s finest cathedrals and landmarks, eventually spiraled out of control, leaving a disarrayed underground maze. By the 1700s, the abandoned tunnels had become so unstable that sinkholes began to swallow entire houses, forcing officials to map and reinforce the labyrinth. Situations darkened as Paris’s cemeteries were overflowing, so the city decided to stash millions of skeletons down below. By 1786, cartloads of bones were moved at night and arranged in eerie displays. Today, the Catacombs stand as an underground memorial to six million Parisians.
Facts
Location: Paris, France
Venue Type: Underground ossuary / historic site
Year Built (and key dates): Roman-era origins (1st century CE); expanded in 12th century; converted to ossuary 1786; opened to public 1809
Status: Active historic monument, part of Musée Carnavalet
Capacity: 200–250 visitors at a time
Music Cred
The Paris Catacombs is arguably the most unique of the 31 haunted venues simply because it’s not exactly a venue. But its history with music is rather fascinating. According to a 2015 finding in music geography, at the time, the only reported musical act to take place at the Catacombs, on April 2, 1897, nearly 50 musicians had a jam session or concert there, performing unique tracks allegedly connected to these burial chambers, including Saint-Saëns’ “Dance Macabre.” Composed in 1874, the piece is a symphonic poem inspired by the medieval concept of the “Dance of Death,” echoing the very spirit of the Catacombs. It serves as a reminder that death comes for all, regardless of rank or status.
No musical act was documented in the Catacombs until 127 years later. While there may have been scattered, unauthorized performances over the years, it wasn’t until 2024 that Queens of the Stone Age made history as the first band officially granted permission by the city of Paris to perform there. The goal wasn’t a traditional concert, but to film Alive in the Catacombs, which was recorded in July 2024 after nearly two decades of planning for a unique, intimate performance.
The performance almost didn’t happen. Frontman Josh Homme was in the middle of a severe health crisis that forced the band to cancel the rest of their European tour. He had a choice: return home immediately or wait a few days for this rare opportunity. He chose to stay one or two more days, delivering a stripped-down, acoustic set in one of the most hauntingly intimate settings imaginable, surrounded by millions of bones and centuries of history. Hours later, Homme underwent emergency surgery. Alive in the Catacombs became a once-in-a-lifetime recording, and while QOTSA are the first band ever approved to perform there, perhaps they won’t be the last. The film is available to purchase at this location.
Watch the trailer below:
Reported Hauntings
Hauntings at the Paris Catacombs
Blair Witch Vibes:
Ironically, this incident took place in the early 90s. A discarded camcorder was discovered deep within the tunnels. Its final footage showed a lone man wandering aimlessly, his panic increasing as the passages appeared to be closing in. The recording ended, leaving more questions than answered.
The Doorman’s Candle:
During the French Revolution, a hospital porter named Philibert Apsairt descended into the Catacombs carrying only a candle. When the flame died, so did his chance of escape. His remains were uncovered more than a decade later, and the legendary tale remains claiming his spirit returns every November 3rd.
Sound Oddities:
Visitors often describe hearing low murmurs or faint footsteps echoing through empty corridors. Some dismiss it as natural acoustics, yet many question if it’s something more.
Legend of the Guards:
Another legend claims that countless souls are left behind to watch over their resting place. Some visitors mention a presence that pushes them back, as if the dead themselves wish to protect the silence of the ossuary.
The Man in Green:
The tale of the phantom figure known as The Green Man is said to lurk in the darker corners of the tunnels. Some say the legend began with criminals who wanted to keep the curious away; still, many claim to have seen him.
The Devil Below the Gardens:
As far back as the 12th century, strange lights and noises beneath the Luxembourg Gardens convinced locals that the Devil, referred to as Diable Vauvert, had taken residence underground.
“Don’t Search” a warning?
In 2004, police were caught off guard when they spotted a complete bar, cinema, and sound system. When they returned days later, everything had vanished. Only a message remained: “Don’t search.”
Three Days in the Dark
The Catacombs’ maze-like passages have claimed more than a few who dared to explore. In 2017, two teenagers were rescued after wandering for three days, suffering from hypothermia.
It has been said that once you wander alone, you may never escape. What happens within these corridors, surrounded by death and millions of bones, remains a mystery.
Visit Info:
To explore the Paris Catacombs legally, you’ll need a ticket and an advance reservation. Only a small portion of the underground tunnels is open to the public. More information can be found here.
Interested in horror and the paranormal? Metal Insider is teaming up with the newly resurrected site Dizarranged, which is also running a haunted countdown to Halloween, featuring 31 haunted places from around the globe.
