Ep 4. Catacombs of Death: Paris

In the fourth episode of Cities of the Underworld season 1, titled "Catacombs of Death: Paris," viewers are taken on a haunting journey beneath the streets of the City of Light. Paris' famous catacombs have long been a fascination for visitors, but few know the true history and secrets hidden in this underground maze of tunnels.

Host Don Wildman begins the episode by exploring one of the few legal entry points into the catacombs – a nondescript building near the famous Montparnasse Cemetery. He descends a narrow spiral staircase and a series of ladders, soon finding himself in a labyrinth of nearly 300km of underground tunnels and chambers.

With the help of local historian Gilles Thomas, Wildman learns how the catacombs began as quarries, mined for the limestone that built many of the city's grand buildings. Over time, the quarries grew until they became an entire underground network. In the late 18th century, as cemeteries began to overflow and pose a public health risk, the city's leaders decided to move the bones of the dead to the catacombs. Over the course of several years, millions of bones were relocated, creating the eerie ossuary that has drawn visitors for centuries.

As Wildman wanders through the catacombs, he encounters more recent history as well. The tunnels served as a secret headquarters for the French Resistance during World War II, and graffiti left behind shows the movement's patriotic symbols and messages of defiance.

However, not all who have ventured into the catacombs have emerged unscathed. Wildman speaks with a former "cataphile" – someone who explores the catacombs illegally – who tells of the dangerous conditions and the eerie legends that still circulate about the tunnels. The underground network is not only home to teenagers seeking adventure, but also to those who have disappeared into the maze, never to be seen again.

Throughout the episode, viewers are treated to stunning shots of the catacombs' intricately arranged piles of skulls and bones, as well as eerie images of abandoned underground rooms and twisted tunnels that stretch into the darkness. All the while, Wildman guides viewers through the history and myths that surround this hidden part of Paris.

Finally, the episode ends with Wildman ascending the narrow spiral staircase once again, back into the light of day. But even as he leaves the catacombs, the sense of mystery and secret history lingers. For those who dare to venture below ground, the catacombs of Paris remain a place of both wonder and danger.