A look at the underbelly of Paris

Meet Morgan Walesh, an American in Paris who specializes in the hidden underbelly of the city.

She talks of her love for the catacombs, the “history of the streets”, and how she tried to talk her way into an infamous Paris apartment…

Find out more about Morgan and her work on “Paris History of our Streets” via her website here, Instagram here, and Facebook here.

The Earful Tower podcast episode

Listen below or wherever you get your podcasts. Scroll down for a look at some of the show’s talking points.

What’s so fascinating about the Catacombs?

Morgan Walesh is enthralled by the Catacombs and has explored the areas closed to the public upwards of 20 times. She loves the history of the space and while she does not yet consider herself a cataphile — an expert in navigating the Catacombs — she loves uncovering the secrets tunnelled beneath the Parisian streets.

Although exploring these restricted sections is illegal, she emphasized on the podcast the respect visitors have for the ossuaries.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Paris History of Our Streets (@paris.history.of.our.streets)

For the sake of research, The Earful Tower went for a five-and-a-half hour descent into these illegal catacombs, with two guides, two headlamps, thigh-high boots, and a microphone. Have a listen to the full episode from 2021 here:

Here’s a YouTube video from the big day so you can experience it in safety, with dry feet. Subscribe to The Earful Tower on YouTube for more like this.

Why Paris and its streets?

Morgan Walesh is charmed by the history of Paris and how there is something to discover around every corner. She particularly likes to find a historical image of Paris and match it side by side with a modern day photo. Check out her social media for more like this.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Paris History of Our Streets (@paris.history.of.our.streets)

Inside the “untouched” Paris apartment

Back in 2015, Morgan became obsessed with an intriguing apartment in the 9th arrondissement that had allegedly been untouched since the 1960s. This apartment gained particular attention because it housed a Boldini painting that sold at auction in 2010 for 3 million euros.

Morgan decided she’d like to get into this apartment out and through asking around in the neighbourhood and staking out the building she was eventually granted access and was able to see what is looks like today. The residents of the home weren’t comfortable with her sharing her photos online so this apartment will remain to be one of Paris’ secrets…

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Richard (@richardquartley)

Curious to get some more insight on unusual Parisian apartments? Take a look inside a domed rooftop home, the most exquisite home in Paris and Oscar Wilde’s hotel room in Paris.

This week’s Earful Tower podcast episode

Below, again, is the podcast episode with Morgan. Enjoy! And if you like what you hear, please consider becoming a Patreon member on the link below.

Interested in hearing more about the underbelly in Paris? Here are seven cool things to find beneath the City of Light.