The Paris catacombs were constructed after mass gravesites started to pollute the soil and leech smells.
The catacombs were originally the site of limestone mines used during the Roman Empire.
It took almost 30 years to move 6 million corpses into the catacombs.
AdvertisementMass graves had been in use for centuries in Paris, reaching a point where some graves held 1,500 bodies at a time.
Years of population boom, plagues, and wars overwhelmed Paris cemeteries.
Persons:
gravesites, —
Organizations:
Service
Locations:
Paris