Beneath The Streets of Paris - Catacombs

One place that had long been on my list of places to see in Paris were the famous Catacombes de Paris. In the 18th century, the cemeteries within the... more

by Mark Tisdale

Title

Beneath The Streets of Paris - Catacombs

Artist

Mark Tisdale

Medium

Photograph - Photo Art

Description

One place that had long been on my list of places to see in Paris were the famous Catacombes de Paris. In the 18th century, the cemeteries within the city of Paris were overcrowded and had become a health hazard. One by one, all the cemeteries were exhumed and the bodies moved into these former mines beneath the city. Every since the 19th century, the Catacombs have been something of a tourist attraction. Certainly even on a rainy winter day, I stood in a line to get inside!

And it's a bizarre but amazing experience to travel beneath he city streets of Paris and wander down long dark hallways filled with the bones of about 7 million people! I have many photos, of course, but it's this image before the actual ossuary that most speaks to me. It's a textured photo of a mostly dark tunnel, but the brilliant warm light radiating from a light source further ahead..

I don't know the best way to describe it, but it speaks to me of coming out of the darkness. Does it speak to you on that same level?

Uploaded

September 5th, 2012

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