The Paris Morgue, also known as the “Morgue de la Ville de Paris,” was a public morgue and anatomical examination facility located in the heart of Paris, France. It was in operation from 1804 until its closure in 1974, and during its time, it was known for its strange entertainment for visitors.

The Paris Morgue was located on the Île de la Cité, an island in the middle of the Seine River, and it was easily accessible to the public. It was a popular destination for curious onlookers who wanted to see the bodies of the recently deceased. The morgue was open to visitors from 8 am to 8 pm, and there was no admission fee. Visitors could walk through the morgue and view the bodies, which were laid out on marble slabs. The bodies were often unclothed, and visitors could see the wounds and injuries that had caused their deaths.

Murder Tourism

The Paris Morgue was a incredibly popular tourist destination, it was even listed in guidebooks from reputable companies like Thomas Cook.

It was open daily and attracted up to 40,000 visitors per day. People of all ages and backgrounds, including both Parisians and tourists, would gather to view the bodies on display. The more gruesome the death, the longer the lines became. When journalists started to write about specific cases, the curiosity of the people grew so large the traffic in Paris came to a full halt. One of these cases was in 1886 when the boatmen discovered a 4 year old girl found dead with a odd bruises on her hand, the crowd outside the Paris Morgue was so huge Paris came to a stop. The doors of the morgue were besieged by the angry mob, jostling to get in to see the tiny four year old in her little dress. She became known as the Enfant de la Rue du Vert-Bois, on the 3 days her body spent there she was visited by over 150,000 people.

The fact that it was free to enter only added to its allure. On rare occasions when there were no bodies on display, the crowd’s disappointment was obvious, The thirst for seeing dead bodies had become unquenchable. Due to the consistent daily crowds, street vendors would set up shop outside the morgue to sell goods to those waiting in line. On popular like the days of the Enfant de la Rue du Vert-bois they made enough money to cover their rent in 12 hours.

Catching suspected criminals

During the 19th century, the frequency of murder cases was sadly quite high. which made the Paris morgue a vital site for police investigations. The probability that a murderer would come to the morgue to see their victim was always possible, making it a common practice for police officers to be present at the morgue. To apprehend criminals, the police used various strategies. Since the 19th century was a time where religious belief we sizeable larger in France some policemen got creative.

In order to extract confessions from suspected murderers, the Paris police would often bring them to view the victims of their crimes. The Morgue had bright lights installed to illuminate the corpses in holy light in the hopes that this would lead to the perpetrator admitting their guilt. This tactic appears to have been effective, as some suspects who had not confessed in the police station, later admitted their guilt when confronted with their victim in person.

The bloodier the object the cheaper the price

The Paris Morgue served multiple functions, one of which was as a Lost and found / Corpse collection from the Seine River. These wonderful things were collected by boatmen, known as “Les Barques,” and brought to the Morgue for safekeeping until they could be claimed or identified. The items found in the Seine River varied greatly and included everything from lost jewelry and valuable objects to everyday items like clothing and personal belongings. These items were catalogued and stored in the Morgue’s “Lost Property” room, where they could be viewed by members of the public searching for lost possessions.

The Paris Morgue also sold a variety of items found in the Seine River. These items were put on display in the Morgue’s “Curiosities Room,” where they could be viewed and purchased by the public. Most of the items that were being sold like jewellery and clothing went off the shelf incredibly fast, since certain people considered it quite the feature to own property of a dead person from the Seine River.

The sale of these items served as a source of revenue for the city, helping to offset the costs of running the Morgue.

However, the practice of selling items found in the Seine River at the Paris Morgue was not without controversy. Some critics argued that the sale of these items amounted to the sale of stolen property, as many of the items found in the Seine River had likely been lost or discarded rather than stolen. Others argued that the sale of these items represented a violation of the privacy of the people whose possessions had been found in the river.

Despite the criticisms, the sale of items found in the Seine River at the Paris Morgue continued to be a popular practice in the 19th century. The Morgue’s “Curiosities Room” was a popular destination for tourists and locals alike, and the sale of these items helped to fund the important work of the Morgue’s staff in investigating deaths and catching criminals.

The Famous “L’inconnue de la Seine”

“L’inconnue de la Seine” was a young woman whose corpse was discovered in the Seine river. Despite committing suicide, her looks were still intact and her peaceful, enigmatic expression reminded the morgue attendant of the Mona Lisa.

A wax plaster cast was taken of her face, but her identity and origins were never discovered. Her beauty sparked public interest and photographs of the mask were widely sold, even leading to copies of the mask appearing on some famous artists walls at home. “L’inconnue de la Seine” was even discovered circulating in the American market, however for a reason unknown the Americans decided to rename it “La Belle Italienne”. To this day, her fame has not diminished and various items bearing her image, such as posters and T-shirts, are still available for purchase.

Summary

Overall, the old morgue by the Seine is an important piece of Parisian history, and it serves as a reminder of the city’s past and the people who lived and died there. It was a fascinating and eerie place to visit, and it offers a unique glimpse into the past and a window into a time when death was a much more public and integral part of daily life.
It has since been demolished and is now replaced by a beautiful little part overlooking the Seine River, right on the backside of the Notre Dame church.

Thank you for taking the time to read.