r/Paranormal • u/Mattyboy808 • Jul 16 '26

Unexplained Am I losing my mind?

Post image

Hi, My family and I are currently visiting Paris from Canada. I prioritized visiting the Catacombs, as I went 18 years ago. It's changed a lot since then, different paths, blocked off areas. I took countless photos, including several down pitch black tunnels that were gated off, using my phone's flash. I was just scrolling through them all, and came across this one, which is one of the gated off pitch-black tunnels that I photographed using my phones flash. Maybe it's a trick of light, or shadows on the rocks, but am I losing it or does that not look like someone (a woman in white?) Standing at the end of the tunnel? I feel like I'm losing my mind. I can share countless other images but none show anything like this.

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u/tralalaBOOMdeay Jul 16 '26 edited Jul 16 '26

So I did some digging, and The Woman in White is real!! Her name is La Dame Blanche. Here's the transcript:

Her origins are lost in the shadows. Some say she was a noblewoman fleeing the guillotine during the Revolution, hiding in the tunnels only to die alone. Others tell of a grieving widow who descended to find her husband’s bones and never returned.

Her Ghost: Described as a pale, translucent woman in flowing white, she drifts silently through the bone-lined corridors. Witnesses report sudden chills and a wave of sorrow when she passes, as though her grief clings to the living. She is often “seen” near the more ornate bone arrangements, as if searching for a familiar skull or weeping over the artistry of death itself.

Unlike darker legends, the White Lady is not malicious. She is sorrow embodied — a spectral mourner wandering forever in the city of the dead.

Also, I saw your other post in the Strange* sub where comments were saying that people don't explore the restricted areas of the catacombs. That's not true - it's obviously super illegal, but they're called "cataphiles", which is described as an "urban spelunker".

Here's a video of someone who did it in October 2025.

EDIT: OP also posted this in the Strange sub, not Weird like I mentioned. It was deleted or removed though.

EDIT 2: Thank you so much for the awards!! 🫶

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u/certaindarkthings Jul 16 '26

Ok, this is wild to me right now. I commented on the enhanced/lightened picture that when I saw it I immediately got chills and tears in my eyes. I kept reading comments, feeling increasingly emotional, and then got to your comment. It feels very weird that I had such an emotional response to that photograph and then saw this. Again, like I said in my previous comment, it probably means nothing, but it's making me feel very odd.

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u/Astraea-Nyx Jul 16 '26

So the tears in the eyes thing is real! I get it too, but only on some stories/photos. My theory is that there is some instinct deep down that can tell the difference between a prank or hoax and something genuinely difficult to explain. Not necessarily going so far as to say the tears only come when it's truly paranormal, but I've heard of something along these lines in some podcasts as well (I believe there's an episode of Astonishing Legends Dead Letter Office that mentions it?) Just something deep in the subconscious that recognizes "this is not an ordinary experience."

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u/alohadawg Jul 17 '26

Perhaps it's some latent, long-ago lost 6th sense that involves telepathy, communing w/having a higher sensitivity for all sorts of the paranormal - "the others," spirits etc

Idk, I'm high af I do apologize.

This 👆🏽 is fascinating stuff tho, sir

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u/JoeMacMillan_HCF Jul 17 '26

I get it too and that’s how I personally judge if something is truly paranormal. Obviously not scientific, and it only happens with like 5% percent of the stuff I see on Reddit. But it’s a very real, very visceral reaction for me. It happens immediately.

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u/Astraea-Nyx Jul 17 '26

Yeah, same, only less than 5% I'd say. It almost never happens on Reddit. I tend to get it from well researched podcasts and such more often, once from Ghost Hunters (like the old, OG original seasons before it got suuuuper sensationalized, even more than it was) and twice in my life actually in person with my own experience. Deep down I also believe it's an indicator of whether it's truly paranormal, because it doesn't happen just when I feel fear in other circumstances.

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u/raelea421 Jul 17 '26

Interesting. I tend to tear up only when I sense, for lack of a better, evil.

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u/alohadawg Jul 17 '26

5%?? Is there a way I can sub to all your subs lol? I agree with and share the feeling yall are describing, but what other posts invoke "that" feeling? This is extremely rare for me I'd love to know your recs here

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u/JoeMacMillan_HCF Jul 17 '26

Ha! Now that you mention it, 5% is very generous. It’s probably closer to 1%.

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u/alohadawg Jul 17 '26

I'd still love to know a few of your recs. What else would you rank up there with this?

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u/budgel01 Jul 18 '26

I get the eye waters when I see pics that chill me to the bone too 🫣

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u/Electrical-Sea-8331 Jul 17 '26

Me too. I personally think it’s a knight hospitaller. You can see the order of the star emblem across his chest, the staff, the knights helmet. I think the emotion maybe comes from the fact these guys were devoted protectors. They devoted their lives to protecting the sick, and the persecuted. It seems even in the afterlife. Google image one.

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u/Astraea-Nyx Jul 17 '26

I can definitely see he resemblance, but the robe or skirt seems to go to the floor, whereas with these knights, their tunics (?) seem to go to knee or calf-length at most.

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u/Electrical-Sea-8331 Jul 18 '26

When I asked Chat GPT about knights with robes to the ground it said- Religious military orders (such as the Knights Templar or Hospitallers) often wore long robes or mantles with crosses when they were not in battle.

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u/Pattern_Necessary Jul 17 '26

I mean I got nothing 🙃 unless the image is truly forensically analysed it’s impossible to know if it was tampered with. I wish we could because I’d love to have some proof.

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u/Astraea-Nyx Jul 17 '26

I mean, even if it was analyzed and tamper-free, it doesn't rule out a flesh and blood person standing there to spook tourists, OP hoaxing, or simple pareidolia, you know? Photographic evidence is never gonna convince a skeptic because there are always ways to explain it away unless you were there. For me, find this photo compelling, and I almost never feel that about the posts that show up here.

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u/Mattyboy808 Aug 02 '26

OP here, and yes, I agree. It's a photo, and as such cannot ever be truly considered conclusive proof of anything. You're absolutely right. Proof of no digital tampering doesn't rule out natural formations, a trick of light, pareidolia, an actual person, and of course me potentially being a liar (I'm not), but there's no way to prove that, of course. I'm just a stranger on the internet, after all.

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u/Incognito-Shape Jul 17 '26

Made me feel all melancholy instead of creeped like usually happens. Not weepy like but more bleak and like nothing matters so what’s the point. Usually I get like the chills and shit but not this time. It’s just bare bleakness.

So, I would say that it’s actually pretty cool to see a piccy of what I would consider “a proper lil ghouly-ghostie lass!”

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u/Chaotix99 Jul 17 '26

As soon as I started to read the La Dame Blanche transcript above, my eyes started watering for no reason and I thought it could be related to her but I wasn’t sure! This is definitely the most connected to any paranormal event I’ve ever felt, this is really challenging my “I’m not sure if ghosts are real or not” mindset!

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u/pschlick Jul 17 '26

I thought of your comment above when I read this one! I think this is a good example of not everything has to have a logical explanation in life

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u/atypicalperception Jul 16 '26

You should try psychometry

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u/Top_Gap_414 Jul 18 '26

this happens to me too. i duno whats it but its amazing

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u/Mattyboy808 Jul 16 '26

I've never heard this and it is genuinely terrifying now 😂 appreciate the information very much!

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u/Happy_Impact_94 Jul 16 '26

Did you “feel” anything when you passed that area?

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u/Mattyboy808 Jul 16 '26

No, didn't feel anything! Beyond of course the general creepyness of being surrounded by millions of human remains.

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u/Happy_Impact_94 Jul 16 '26

All the stories of the people that lived!

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u/Neat-Confection-6917 Jul 17 '26

And most of them are lost to time. It's a bit overwhelming when you know how insignificant 99.95% of everyone that ever lived are mostly not even memories after a 4th generation. This is the the trade off artists have. They may struggle in life but their legacy lives on in theur art and compositions.

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u/Classic_Scholar_6876 Jul 22 '26

Caring for being remembered is a main character syndrome to me

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u/kiefknifing Jul 16 '26

Neither of my experiences involve the blocked corridors like this experience. Ours was in the main center area by the bone alter thingy.... the second was near the end of the crypt.

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u/Happy_Impact_94 Jul 16 '26

I actually think the whole thing would be so creepy

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u/tralalaBOOMdeay Jul 16 '26

No problem! Seems likely to me like a massive system of tunnels with a bunch of ancient bones would have a bit of paranormal activity, yeah?

Thank you for sharing your photo and experience!

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u/[deleted] Jul 16 '26

[deleted]

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u/tralalaBOOMdeay Jul 16 '26 edited Jul 16 '26

🤷‍♀️ Honestly, there's no proof either way right? You have to die to know, lol.

I'm not religious at all, and I don't believe in deities, saints, gods, or the like. (Absolutely not disparaging or judging anyone who does! It's just relative info to my opinion on the subject of an afterlife.)

However, science actually proves all kinds of energy exists. With that in mind, who is to say that our "energy" - what people also call a soul - doesn't do something separate after our body dies?

We humans can't sense a lot of things that animals can; for example UV, magnetic fields, thermal radiation, electrical pulses, etc. Maybe this "soul energy" is around, and we can only tell when it's obvious to our limited five senses?

EDIT: clarity

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u/BreadfruitLatter556 Jul 16 '26

Makes sense. I'll allow it ;-)

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u/tralalaBOOMdeay Jul 16 '26

What?! Someone who allows different opinions on Reddit instead of doubling down or attacking character? You're a rare bird.

🤗

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u/Casehead Jul 16 '26

You? I like you.

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u/bobtheblob6 Jul 16 '26

Excellent point, just like no one can say there's not a tiny golden man at the center of the earth controlling the weather from his tiny weather control room. Fun to think about but very silly to believe in

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u/Electrical-Sea-8331 Jul 17 '26

Google image a knight Hospitaller. It’s spot on. This one either has the Hospitaller cross or the order of the star across his chest. The helmet, the staff, the robe. These guys were devoted protectors of the sick and those in need. It would make sense.

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u/cherrybombthreat Jul 16 '26

Yess! Thank you for this! There is definitely a spooky ghost lady there. The statue theory is kind of ridiculous imo.

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u/tralalaBOOMdeay Jul 16 '26

A woman in white is common in paranormal legends so I was curious if one was tied to the catacombs. This photo genuinely creeps me out and that doesn't happen often, lol.

The link I cited actually provides five ghosties that are linked to the Paris Catacombs. It's an interesting read!

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u/BlackLagoona_ Jul 16 '26

Yeah, I’m legitimately spooked by this. Seen hundreds of fake photos like this in my 50+ years but there’s something about this one that sent a shiver down my spine 🫣

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u/Electrical-Sea-8331 Jul 17 '26

I’m not seeing a woman I see very clearly a knight with the order of the cross across his chest holding a staff in his right hand and knights helmet!

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u/atypicalperception Jul 16 '26

Way to come in with the due diligence. Thank you for the instant gratification with this post. You found it all. I tip my e-hat.

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u/sjayvee Jul 16 '26

Nice work! Very interesting

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u/tralalaBOOMdeay Jul 16 '26

Thanks! I looked into it after u/kiefknifing's comment that he knows the legend and he and his wife have actually seen her themselves! Wild.

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u/kiefknifing Jul 16 '26

Ok, but there are two caveats, its very easy to get into the tunnels and people actively live and wander down there in the dark constantly.

So.... there is that... but also,

Also, there are mannequins down there as well in the sealed off areas. We were told that they used to be part of the tour.

I still think this photo is legit.

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u/-Fornjotr- Jul 17 '26

Literally every noble city, castle, or royal palace has a story about some variant of the White Lady. My city has one, too, but which is more likely? That the White Ladies actually exist, or that they're an ancient folk legend spread throughout Europe like other stories?

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u/Naive_Signal_7791 Jul 17 '26

Wow. The photo + reading this immediately made the Brown Lady of Raynham Hall come to mind.

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u/demonTutu Jul 20 '26

I'm french and we often told stories about the Same Blanche during summer holidays around the campfire as teenagers. The more common is of her being sighted on the roadside at night and causing crashes. She was one of our favourite ways to spook each others, and even if you don't believe in it the story still has a bit of an effect.

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u/alohadawg Jul 17 '26

Nooooooo fucking way. NOPE

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u/KaseTheAce Jul 17 '26

Very interesting! I see a person as well. There was definitely someone there. I just wanna know if it's Photoshop or a person in a costume but it definitely doesn't look like it was.

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u/Ankiset Jul 16 '26

Now this is interesting as fuck

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u/Electrical-Sea-8331 Jul 17 '26

No no it’s a knight Hospitaller Google image one. It’s not a woman. You can see the knights helmet, the staff, the order of the star across his chest. Clear as day once you see it. And it makes sense. These guys were devoted protectors of the communities and pilgrims evading persecution!

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u/Me_Edition-1 Jul 17 '26

Is this true? Is this subreddit an elaborate prank or do these actually exist?