Latest news with #Catacombs
Yahoo
02-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Rock singer details illness that made him spend ‘seven months in bed,' cancel tour
Josh Homme of Queens of the Stone Age has dealt with several health issues over the years, including a diagnosis and recovery from cancer from 2022 to 2023. But his most recent illness left the rock singer bedridden for several months. Homme's health crisis emerged when QOTSA was about to tape a live set inside the Catacombs of Paris in July 2024. 'I was in a very difficult physical spot, and I'm really thankful that I was, actually,' Homme said an interview with Consequence. 'I couldn't think about anything else but where we were. It's better that I was unwell, because I think if I was well, we would've maybe been more 'California' about it and thought 'Man, it's so cool to be here...' And something about that kind of sucks.' The frontman decided to fight through his ailment, which Homme deliberately kept vague for privacy, and record QOTSA's 'Alive in the Catacombs' EP. Homme was then flown back home and sedated for emergency surgery less than a day later. The surgery ultimately forced the band to cancel the remainder of their 2024 tour. 'I performed in the Catacombs, and within about 20 hours I was being sedated and put under,' Homme told Consequence. 'Then I spent the next seven months in bed. I had a lot of time to think, you know? I was told I was gonna spend 18 months, two years there, so I was not excited.' However, doctors told Homme that he was going to be okay by December. When he heard that news, the singer said he 'felt like a rodeo bull leaning on the gate.' 'It's like, when you open this (expletive) gate, I'm gonna run. I'm gonna run,' he told Consequence. Homme is now gearing up for QOTSA's upcoming 'Catacombs Tour,' which kicks off in October. The tour will consist of more intimate acoustic shows with Homme encouraging fans to dress up. 'Somewhere between a tuxedo T-shirt and 'The Hunger Games' and 'Let's Make a Deal‚" Homme said while describing the proper attire and before offering another alternative. 'Actually, it's somewhere between a funeral, a prom, and a wedding.' The 'Catacombs Tour' includes a stop Boch Center Wang Theatre in Boston on Oct. 8. Fans can shop for tickets online using Ticketmaster or reliable third-party ticket sellers like StubHub, VividSeats and SeatGeek. More music content These WMass performers are honing their skills at CitySpace Easthampton Country icon to perform at Mass. city's 400th anniversary celebration Original lead singer of iconic metal band dies at 69 Linkin Park to play two shows in Boston, here's how to buy last-minute tickets Controversial rapper slammed for calling LGBTQ+ identities 'trauma response' Read the original article on MassLive. Solve the daily Crossword
CBC
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Why Josh Homme wanted to film a concert inside the Paris Catacombs
Last summer, Queens of the Stone Age became the first-ever band to perform inside the Paris Catacombs, where the remains of more than six million people are held. That performance was captured in a new concert film and five-song EP, Alive in the Catacombs. In an interview with Q 's Tom Power, frontman Josh Homme says the concert is something he's been trying to make happen for 20 years, but he's been fascinated by the Catacombs since he was a kid. WATCH | Official trailer for Alive in the Catacombs: "When you're young, you never think you're going to die," he says. "It all seems so far away. And people never talk about things like that unless it happens, and it's terrible. So I just think the taboo nature drew me in close. And I think the art of it — the way these bones were so lovingly, respectfully stacked — it just caught my eye. I just couldn't believe that that was OK." The first time Homme had ever been in the Catacombs was to perform with his band, though he had tried to see them before. "For the better part of 20 years, it was just something that every time we would go to Europe, I would say, 'Hey, let's try to play the Catacombs again,'" he says. "It was almost a joke to myself because it had not happened." But after finally getting permission to hold a concert there, Homme got incredibly sick. Immediately after his performance in the Catacombs, he had to fly back to the U.S. to get emergency surgery. "What are the chances that I myself would be in a very dire situation at the same time, after all those years of waiting?" he says. "They're so small that it felt meant to be. And again, you know, there's some that would say, 'It's just a pile of bones and nothing is meant to be, everything's chaos.' And that's OK, too. I'm fine with someone saying that. I don't care about that. I'm saying it feels meant to be for me."
Forbes
08-07-2025
- Forbes
Exploring Paris' Hidden History: The Subterranean Tourist
PARIS, FRANCE - JULY O2 : Ossuary in the catacombs of Paris, Ile-de-France, France on July 02, 2020 in Paris, France. (Photo by Frédéric Soltan/Corbis via Getty Images) Corbis via Getty Images Beneath Paris' grand boulevard lies a hidden history filled with buried secrets, ancient passageways, and forgotten worlds. For adventurous travelers and history enthusiasts alike, these underground spaces provide a unique opportunity to step back in time. The Subterranean Tourist Series is your guide to the hidden history just beneath the surface of the world's iconic cities. Here's a look at Paris' buried past. Catacombes de Paris 1 Avenue du Colonel Henri Rol‑Tanguy, 75014 Paris Beneath the romantic streets of Paris lies a haunting maze of tunnels filled with the bones of over six million people. The Catacombs, originally limestone quarries, were transformed into city cemeteries in the late 18th century when the existing cemeteries overflowed. Visitors descend a spiral staircase into dim, narrow tunnels lined with artfully arranged skulls and femurs. How to Get There: Nearest Metro station is Denfert‑Rochereau (Lines 4, 6, and RER B). Ticket Information Eiffel Tower Military Bunker Champs‑de‑Mars (underground near Eiffel Tower), 75007 Paris A concealed military bunker used for radio transmissions is located beneath the Champ‑de‑Mars near the Eiffel Tower's base. It's not always open, but it's included in special tours. How to Get There: Nearest Metro station is Champ de Mars–Tour Eiffel (RER C). Ticket Information Crypte Archéologique de l'Île de la Cité 7 Parvis Notre‑Dame – Place Jean‑Paul II, 75004 Paris Just steps from Notre‑Dame, the Archaeological Crypt unveils centuries of Parisian history that has been buried beneath the city. This underground site features preserved Roman ruins, medieval walls, and the foundations of ancient buildings that once comprised the heart of Lutetia, Paris's predecessor. Interactive exhibits and 3D models help bring the city's transformation from a Roman outpost to a Gothic metropolis to life—a must-see for history enthusiasts eager to explore Paris' hidden past. How to Get There: Nearest Metro station is Cité (Line 4). Ticket Information Paris, France - April 24, 2019: Victor Hugo tomb in the crypts of French Mausoleum for Great People of France - the Pantheon, Paris, France getty Crypt of the Panthéon Place du Panthéon, 75005 Paris Beneath the grand dome of the Panthéon lies a hidden crypt where many of France's greatest minds are buried. Voltaire, Rousseau, Marie Curie, and Victor Hugo are among the notable figures laid to rest there. How to Get There: Nearest Metro station is Cardinal Lemoine (Line 10). Ticket Information Basilique Saint‑Denis Crypt 1 Rue de la Légion d'Honneur, 93200 Saint‑Denis Often referred to as the birthplace of Gothic architecture, the Basilica of Saint‑Denis houses France's royal necropolis in its underground crypt. Under the soaring nave, visitors can see the tombs of almost every French monarch from the 10th to the 18th centuries. The stone effigies and burial vaults tell the story of France's Kings and Queens. How to Get There: Nearest Metro station is Basilique de Saint‑Denis (Line 13). Ticket Information Château de Vincennes Moat and Casemates Avenue de Paris, 94300 Vincennes. Just outside Paris, the Château de Vincennes conceals a network of underground rooms and defensive structures beneath its moat. Once a royal residence turned military stronghold, its subterranean spaces include powder magazines and storerooms that played a vital role in its defense, illustrating medieval fortification architecture. How to Get There: Nearest Metro station is Château de Vincennes (Line 1). Ticket Information Mémorial des Martyrs de la Déportation Square de l'Île‑de‑France / 7 Quai de l'Archevêché, 75004 Paris. Located beneath Île de la Cité, this stark, minimalist crypt honors the 200,000 French victims deported to Nazi camps. Narrow corridors, dim lighting, and iron bars create a powerful sense of confinement and loss in a subterranean tribute. How to Get There: Nearest Metro station is Cité (Line 4). Ticket Information: Free Entry Command Bunker – Musée de la Libération de Paris 4 Avenue du Colonel Henri Rol‑Tanguy (Place Denfert-Rochereau), 75014 Paris Twenty meters below the Place Denfert-Rochereau lies the secret command post of Colonel Rol‑Tanguy, a leader of the French Resistance. Preserved exactly as it was in 1944, the bunker features maps, phones, and furnishings from the era. How to Get There: Nearest Metro station is Denfert‑Rochereau (Lines 4, 6, RER B). Ticket Information Canal Saint‑Martin Underground Vaults Bastille / République vicinity, Paris 11th/4th arrondissements. Sections of the Canal Saint‑Martin vanish into underground vaulted stone tunnels. Built initially by Napoleon, these caverns offer a rare glimpse into 19th-century hydraulic engineering. How to Get There: Nearest Metro station is Bastille or République. Ticket Information The Archaeological Crypt, beneath Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral. getty Saint‑Sulpice Crypt Église Saint‑Sulpice, 2 Rue Palatine, 75006 Paris Beneath the Church of Saint‑Sulpice lies a large crypt with ancient tombs and early Christian relics. Known for its astronomical gnomon, the crypt offers a spiritual and scientific glimpse into Paris's religious history. How to Get There: Nearest Metro station is Saint‑Sulpice (Line 4). Ticket Information Carrières des Capucins / Quarries of the Capuchins Beneath Montparnasse, near Raspail (Lines 4, 6), Paris 14th. These abandoned limestone quarries beneath Montparnasse once supplied the stone used to build Paris. Later, they served as bunkers and hideouts; now, the tunnels can be visited on select guided tours and heritage days. How to Get There: Nearest Metro station is Raspail (Lines 4, 6). Ticket Information Sorbonne University Cellars Sorbonne, 47 Rue des Écoles, 75005 Paris The prestigious Sorbonne University has ancient wine cellars and storage vaults beneath its historic buildings. Sometimes open during heritage events, these spaces reflect centuries of academic history and hidden secrets beneath the classrooms of this ancient university. How to Get There: Nearest Metro station is Cluny–La Sorbonne (Line 10). Ticket Information Musée de la Magie / Museum of Magic 11 Rue Saint-Paul, 75004 Paris Located in 16th-century vaulted cellars in Le Marais, this museum showcases illusion and sleight of hand with antique magic tricks, automata, and live demonstrations. How to Get There: Nearest Metro station is Saint‑Paul (Line 1). Ticket Information Exploring the sewer tunnels underneath the streets of Paris, France. getty Les Égouts de Paris / Paris Sewer Museum Place Habib Bourguiba (Pont de l'Alma), 75007 Paris The Paris Sewer Museum offers a unique and fascinating tour through the city's complex underground wastewater system. First opened to the public in the 19th century, the museum explores actual sewer tunnels and highlights the engineering brilliance of Baron Haussmann's modern sewage network. Visitors walk above gently flowing water while learning how the sewers transformed from medieval filth to a clean, organized system vital to modern Parisian life. See also the separate Historic Sewer Tunnels Tour. How to Get There: Nearest Metro station is Alma‑Marceau (Line 9). Ticket Information Hôpital Saint‑Louis 1 Avenue Claude Vellefaux, 75010 Paris Hidden beneath a hospital basement, this medical wax museum showcases thousands of detailed dermatological models that were once used for educational purposes. Eerie, clinical, and unique. How to Get There: Nearest Metro station is Goncourt (Line 11). Ticket Information Viaduc des Arts / Vaults beneath Promenade Plantée Promenade Plantée, 1 Coulée Verte René‑Dumont, 75012 Paris A series of arched 19th-century vaults beneath an old railway line now houses artisan workshops, ranging from violin makers to glassblowers, beneath a lush, elevated park. How to Get There: Nearest Metro station is Bastille (Lines 1, 5, 8). Ticket Information: Free Self-Guided Access Place des Vosges Cellars Place des Vosges, 75004 Paris Beneath one of Paris's oldest squares lie preserved wine cellars, occasionally opened to the public. They reflect the aristocratic indulgence and architectural sophistication of the 17th century. How to Get There: Nearest Metro station is Chemin Vert (Line 8). Ticket Information École des Mines de Paris Vaults 60 Boulevard Saint‑Michel, 75005 Paris France's top mining school has a maze of rock tunnels and geological samples beneath its courtyard. The tunnels serve as educational exhibits and are rarely open to the public. How to Get There: Nearest Metro station is Vavin (Line 4). Ticket Information Pavillons de Bercy Cellars / Musée des Arts Forains 53 Avenue des Terroirs de France, 75012 Paris This whimsical fairground museum features underground storage areas that showcase carousels, games, and magic mirrors beneath historic wine warehouses. How to Get There: Nearest Metro station is Cour Saint‑Émilion (Line 14). Ticket Information Opéra Garnier Basement and Lake 8 Rue Scribe, 75009 Paris Legendary for inspiring The Phantom of the Opera, the basement of Opéra Garnier includes a real underground lake. Built initially to compensate for the building's instability on marshy ground, this hidden reservoir adds to the mystery of the ornate theater. Access is usually restricted, but some backstage tours offer a glimpse of this fascinating architectural feature. How to Get There: Nearest Metro station is Opéra (Lines 3, 7, 8). Ticket Information These hidden sites reveal only a small part of the history buried beneath Paris' streets. Mysterious, intriguing, and often forgotten, they provide an unforgettable gateway into the city's underground past. For any subterranean explorer eager to discover what's beneath the surface, this is where the adventure starts. More From Forbes
Daily Mail
08-06-2025
- Daily Mail
The six million skeletons hidden in over 150 miles of tunnels under Paris' streets
From the Eiffel Tower to the Louvre, Paris' top tourist attractions draw around 50 million visitors to the French capital every year. But many travellers miss one of the city's more curious landmarks - because it's entirely underground. Hidden beneath the streets of Paris is a labyrinth of tunnels with more than six million skeletons inside. The Catacombs were first opened in the late 18th century when public health issues at Paris' cemeteries led authorities to move the skeletons to an underground site. The last bones were put in the Catacombs in 1860 but the site was first opened to the public in 1809. The first visits were by appointment only but quickly became very popular. While just a small section of the Catacombs is open to the public today, the entire network is thought to be around 174 miles long. Nowadays, tourists can visit the site and the Catacombs gets around 550,000 visitors a year. Travellers will need to descend 131 steps, 20m down into the 'depths of Paris' to reach the site. Visitors then follow a 1.5km long route around the Catacombs which takes about an hour. And while the Catacombs are open all year round, there's a particularly good reason to visit during summer. Even if temperatures are heatwave-level outside, it's generally never warmer than 14 degrees inside the Catacombs, making the tunnels the perfect cool escape from warm weather. As unusual as it may seem as a tourist attraction, the Catacombs have picked up a 4.1/5 star rating on Tripadvisor. One reviewer writes: 'What a unique experience in Paris. It was an informative experience.' Another person says: 'Weird but interesting. The bones were arranged and stacked skilfully.' And another person reveals: 'This was my favourite part of my trip to Paris. I'm a nurse and a science lover, and am confident that anyone with great interest in history will enjoy visiting the Catacombs.'
