Actually it’s more about Paris from the «downside» because today we are going to speak about a totally different city from the one we all got used to – we will speak about the underground life of Paris .

First goes Paris Métro (or Métropolitain) which was first open back in 1900. A first train had only three wooden cars and 3 years after opening the great catastrophe happened – the fire which had suddenly begun in the metro carried 84 people lives away. Instead of stopping the driver kept the train moving until it was back in the tunnel, and only then he stopped for help at the first station. That only strengthened the fire and became a reason of sad consequences.

One of the Paris Métro symbols is the original art nouveau entrances (glass and cast-iron canopies) made according to the project of famous architecture Hector Guimard, and 83 of them still survive.

Today Paris is the second busiest metro system in Europe after Moscow . But underground Paris is much more than just 199 km of metro lines. Besides that Paris catacombs and city canalization attract people from all over the world. Is there any need in saying that all these tree underground systems repeatedly cross each other?

Paris catacombs is another important part of the city inner world. Catacombs is nothing but 300 km of subterranean tunnels and caverns organized in the end of 18 th century which became a museum in 1867. Tourists can see only a little part of the labyrinth which entrance starts with the words: « Stop! Here is the empire of death». After that goes 1,5 km of tunnels packed with femurs, fragments of backbones, skulls, edges and smaller parts of a human skeleton. During the French revolution Paris cemetery didn’t have enough place for dead bodies anymore and it was decided to create three new large-scale suburban cemeteries and to put all existing within the city limits – under the ground. And since 1786 till 1860 about 6 million of skeletons were moved down.

But Paris from the inside is not only about metro and catacombs. Can you believe that twenty metres below the Paris pavements is truly another world? And this mysterious world is inhabited by vagabonds, drug dealers and even underground movie freaks.

A special «sport police» group observes the situation under the city ground. And that is also «the place of glory» for urban explorers so popular in Paris . Group of people comes together not for some special scientific searches but for «living in digging» – meaning these people spend all their free time discovering unusual, mystic and even frightening things under the ground. Thus, back in 2004 a group of urban explorers found a real underground movie theatre organized by «movie philes» or a sect as it got known later. This cinema was going 18 metres under had an amphitheatre shape with terraces cut into the rock and chairs, and a huge screen with professional projectors. Next to the movie theatre there was a bar and the whole place had electricity – later on the police was wondering how the electricity cables could get in there without anybody knowing. The next day when the officers came back to lift the cinema equipment upward they found absolutely nothing but a little note on the floor saying «Do not try to find us».

The famous photographer Patrick Alk, the author of the book « Discovering the Paris underground», commented this weird case on the radio saying: «There is about a dozen more of such movie theaters under the ground. Does it make any difference if the police just found one of them? You guys can’t even imagine what’s going on underneath there». And it looks like we really don’t.

Many people from all over the world love Paris and often visit this amazing city. It is popular by lots of historical and tourist attractions. But only few of us really know some corners that hidden from tourists’ eyes and unusual places of this ancient town. We won’t tell you about Louvre, the main tour or French Disneyland. We will open a mystery world of unknown Paris.

1. Everybody knows that France is a country of wine and cheese, but almost nobody knows anything about the Waters’ St. (Rue des Eaux), which is a little wine world. The Passy abbey on this street is rather popular by it’s thermal springs, but favorite Louis XIII’s wine cellars were found here only few years ago by one of the restaurant hosts. He transformed them into a wine museum where tourists could find ancient bottles and wineglasses, wax figures of monks and their tools and taste rare kinds of wine and cheese, as well.

Rue des Eaux & Musee du Vin

2. Then we advise you to visit one pretty restaurant which name is “La Mère Catherine”. It is the world’s first bistro that had this name from russian cossacks who had shouted “bistro” (that means quickly) demanding food in 1814. Today their service is as slow as it was century ago, so be patient. It is a typically french restaurant with traditional cuisine: salad with hot cracklings, chicken cocotte, lamb-chop in garlic batter with parsley. Average price without drinks per person is 30 Euro.

La Mère Catherine Restaurant

3. St. Chateau-D’Eau is known by it’s 39th house that is the narrowest one in Paris. It is 5 meters in height and only 1.20 in width. It consists of one door, one window and one room. This incredible house was built just to fill the space between two streets.

The narrowest house in Paris

4. Charming “La Villet” is a place that, unfortunately, less visited by tourists. And it’s a big mistake. Former slaughterhouse was rebuilt into a great museum of science, engineering and industry, including park, music town and different amusement for adults and children. This place takes you to the future and you become an element in the space. Incredible atmosphere is made of metal roads and bridges, strange sculptures and constructions, unusual fountains and buildings. Focus place of “La Villet” is a huge sphere 36 meters in diameter which, at the same time, is the biggest cinema. It looks like a bubble from outside, but coming inside, you can see a half-spheric screen having of 1000 sq. m. placing you in the center of acting. By the way, this place is in permanent reconstruction, that’s why each visit you would mention here something new.

La Géode in La Villet

5. Special theme about Paris is it’s underground. It is like some reflection of social life in the town. May be it couldn’t be compared with English one, but Louvre-Rivoli station is exactly gorgeous. Take a look at it’s entrance and you will see a beautiful arch with many colorful balls. It wouldn’t be anything shocking if it was usual glass. But it is the real Italian blown glass performed a work of art.

Louvre-Rivoli Metro Station (Details)

6. Undoubtedly, one of the worth visit place in Paris is a Ferris wheel, built in 2000 on Elysees Fields. It has a very hard destiny and scandal reputation. But 60 meters over the land and 50 000 light bulbs attract tourist annually and let them see may be the most beautiful and romantic panorama in the world.

Big Ferris Wheel in Jardin des Tuileries

7. There is one legend in Paris. Once upon a time a certain Marie-Etienne Nitot saved Napoleon’s life and once became a popular court jeweller and a founder of Chaumet house. Many years passed, but Chaumet jewellery is available nowadays. Most people can only watch at it, only the richest one can buy it. The house 12 at Vendôme Square is playing a big role in present Chaumet’s life. It remembers Russian ambassadors and their famous guests, Shopen’s music and his death, Napoleon III and his future wife’s meeting. And now, it saves thousands of ancient photos, negatives and drafts of precious jewellery. You can find here original diadems, copies of all exclusive and serial models: 1500 items, which was made over the last 200 years. Also you can know the price of jewellery in gold ancient franc, clients’ names and look through the old account books.

12 Place Vendome: the Heart and Soul of Chaumet

8. Recently, Field of Mars has started to attract people’s attention again. This interest has appeared due to The Wall of Peace. It’s an unusual 9 meters in height pavilion made of glass, metal and wood. There are 32 steel columns around. The word “peace” is written in different languages on the wall and on each of these columns. People can leave their message in special niches. Those who live far from France also can leave their letters through the Internet and their thoughts will appear on one of the 30 screens on Paris Wall. This place reminds us that the main responsibility in the world is providing peace.

The Wall of Peace (Le mur de la paix), in front of the Eiffel Tower on the Champ de Mars.

9. Père Lachaise is the most popular cemetery in the world. It is the biggest green oasis in Paris and also the greatest museum of the graveside sculpture. The latter will be discussed. We won’t enumerate all famous person and their monuments. We’ll pay attention to the one, the Victor Noir’s grave. He isn’t as popular as the whole cemetery is. But thousand of men and women come to him believing to be treated form infertility and impotence. It is enough to touch his groin that shines better than other parts of body.

A bronze sculpture at Pere-Lachaise cemetery

10. Hundreds of kilometers of mystery gallery, which are known as Paris catacombs, may be the most enigmatic place in this romantic city. At first, it was ancient stone quarry, then this quarry was turned into enormous cemetery. There are bones of more than 6 million different people that accurately stacked into walls in specific décor. In this terrific museum you can see many monuments, ancient altar and well, crypt, tunnel. You’ll have a great opportunity to descend on 20 meters below ground and to know a new Paris with it’s hidden life.

Mysterious world of hidden Paris – catacombs!

To get to know more about The Catacombs of Paris (Catacombes de Paris), read Paris from the inside.

This report has shown you only a part of possible places to visit. The main advise is not to use trite routes and try to explore new places that aren’t mentioned in your guide-book. Remember, Paris is too big and too ancient to be enough for one trip. It keeps lots of secrets and surprises. You should surely come back to know them better.