Cataphile

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Cataphiles are urban explorers who illegally tour the Paris "catacombs", the term popularily used to describe a series of underground tunnels that were formerly a network of stone mines.

Contents 1 Unauthorized visits 2 Ethics 3 References 4 External links

[edit] Unauthorized visits

Entrance to the catacombs is restricted. The portion of the catacombs open to the public is only a small part of an extensive network of underground tunnels, which spans more than 300km (about 186 miles) in length. The tunnel system is complex, and though some tunnels have plaques indicating the name of the street above, it is still quite easy to get lost: some passages are extremely low or narrow and others are partially flooded. There are also aging telephone wires, pipes, etc. that can hinder progress, and cave-ins, although rare, do occasionally occur. A good guide is therefore indispensable, and even many good guides still refer to a map from time to time. Because of these potential dangers, accessing the catacombs unescorted by officials has been illegal since November 2, 1955; today, there is a € 60 fine if one gets caught by the cataflics — the special police who patrol the catacombs.

However, secret entrances do exist throughout Paris and it is possible to enter the catacombs via the sewers, metro, and certain manholes. Some unofficial visitors also hold keys to certain official entrances. On rare occasions people do make use of these access points and illegally enter the catacombs — for example, to meet clandestinely, to hold unusual parties, or simply as urban explorers. (Specifically, those who have an affinity for exploring the catacombs are known as cataphiles.)

For those who frequent the tunnels — either by official or unofficial means — cataphile etiquette includes leaving no garbage behind and never leaving entrances such as manholes open, as this could pose a potential danger to the public and thus might inspire officials to seal the entrance. Most cataphiles also look down upon tagging (that is, leaving behind graffiti in the form of a stylized signature).

In September 2004, an underground movie theater run by the Mexican Perforation — a French artistic movement that seeks to convey their ideas using underground places — was discovered by the French police.^[1]

Cataphiles often descend for a day, a night, or perhaps a week in order to explore, take photos, paint murals, create maps, clean up rooms, dig chatières and enjoy themselves among friends.

[edit] Ethics

Cataphile ethics include leaving no waste behind and never leaving manholes open (which would create a danger for the street-side populace, and thus inspire officials to seal the entrance). Tagging, a form of graffiti consisting of a stylized signature, is a controversial subject for cataphiles, and urban explorers in general. Some cataphiles tag but others look down on it as a form of degradation.

Some cataphiles leave tracts -- pieces of paper featuring drawings, poetry, photos, jokes, or a historical explanation of a certain underground site. Often tracts are hidden in little nooks and crannies; many tracts are detailed works of art, and many cataphiles collect them.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• (French) French urban Xplorers/cataphile pics and reports
• (French) Underground Masterpieces
• (French) Tracts
• (French) Photos of Cataphiles and the Catacombs (in video format with music)