The original purpose of the catacombs was a. to bury political prisoners during the French Revolution b. to clean up overcrowded cemeteries c. to bring more tourists to Paris
The catacombs have been open for tours since the early a. 1700s b. 1800s c. 1900s
A “cataphile” is someone who a. polices the catacombs b. tours the catacombs c. enters the catacombs illegally
Discussion/essay questions
Different cultures have different traditions for honouring the dead. What are some of these traditions in your culture?
Do you believe in ghosts? Why or why not?
Transcript
Underneath the city of Paris, there are about 300 kilometres of underground tunnels that house the dead. The bones of over 6 million people rest in these catacombs. In the late 1700s, Paris cemeteries were crowded and unsanitary, and they made people sick. The catacombs were the solution to this problem. Later, during the French Revolution, the catacombs became a place to bury political prisoners after they were executed. The catacombs have been open for tours since 1809, but these tours only cover about 2 kilometres. It is illegal to enter and explore from anywhere else. Despite this, a community of people called “cataphiles” enter without permission to make art, host parties, and watch movies. Police have even discovered an underground bar.
The town of Longyearbyen is located on the Svalbard archipelago in Norway. It is known for its local policy that prevents people from . Residents of Longyearbyen who are very sick or injured are sent to on the mainland. The town has also outlawed burying bodies in the ground, and even cremation requires a permit. While this law sounds unusual, it exists for a good . In the 1950s, residents learned that bodies buried on the archipelago don’t decompose. This is because the is so cold that the ground is always frozen. The problem with this is that the cold ground also preserves viruses that the bodies are infected with. In order to prevent an outbreak, Longyearbyen stopped using the town cemetery.
Comprehension questions
[wp_quiz id=”20637″]
Discussion/essay questions
Many places around the world have some strange laws. For example, it is illegal to enter the British Parliament building while wearing a suit of armour. Are there any unusual laws where you live?
Transcript
The town of Longyearbyen is located on the Svalbard archipelago in Norway. It is known for its strange local policy that prevents people from dying. Residents of Longyearbyen who are very sick or injured are sent to hospitals on the mainland. The town has also outlawed burying bodies in the ground, and even cremation requires a permit. While this law sounds unusual, it exists for a good reason. In the 1950s, residents learned that bodies buried on the archipelago don’t decompose. This is because the climate is so cold that the ground is always frozen. The problem with this is that the cold ground also preserves viruses that the bodies are infected with. In order to prevent an outbreak, Longyearbyen stopped using the town cemetery.
