Denfert Rochereau Plaza
We notice by the anecdote that it existed at the time at the same place a «hell’s gate». Coincidence?
No, the length of the part comprised between the boulevard Edgar Quinet and the actual Denfert-Rochereau square was 70m before the September 14th, 1892 decree and occupied the whole of the former boulevard of Hell (currently boulevard Raspail) and the former exterior boulevard (part of the boulevard Montrouge) that had been united into one during the enlargement of Paris (law of June 16, 1859). This southern end of the former Parisian frontier, a bad-famed place, was known as “Hell’s barrier”, a commonplace just at the right moment by the doubly providential General Denfert-Rochereau...
The second monument most visited in Paris: the catacombs
One of the entrances is located under the Denfert-Rochereau square. Its 1500 meters long represent only a small part of the 300 Km of the Parisian network of galleries.
The first depot dates from 1786, year when the royal authorities decided to make the Cemetery of Innocents. Later, to enable the suppression of cemeteries in the inner Paris region, other mortal remains came to add themselves to the bones. The different insurrections and massacres that marked the history of Paris in the 18 and 19 centuries will add an important part to the bones of Denfert. The mortal remains found during archeological excavations or during refuse works came also to add to the bones, and that up to 1960!
