Beneath Paris's July Column lie the remains of revolutionaries from 1830 and 1848, but legends of Egyptian mummies in the crypt remain unconfirmed.
Monument beneath the July Column
Under the 50-meter July Column in Paris's Place de la Bastille, the remains of 504 people killed during the Three Glorious Days of July 1830 have rested since 1840. These individuals were insurgents who fought during the revolution that forced King Charles X from power and brought Louis-Philippe to the throne.Relocation of the remains
The remains were originally buried in various parts of Paris after the 1830 uprising, including the Louvre gardens, the old cemetery of the Innocents, and Rue Fromenteau. In 1840, they were exhumed and moved to the July Column, placed in 50 coffins pulled by 20 horses during a ceremonial procession.Design and symbolism of the column
The July Column, designed by architect Alavoine and decorated by Joseph-Louis Duc, was built to honor the revolutionaries. A law passed in 1839 designated it as a funerary monument. The hollow shaft, divided into three sections, symbolizes the three days of the July Revolution, and the names of the fallen are engraved on it.Mysterious Egyptian mummies
Some accounts suggest that Egyptian mummies, brought to France during Napoleon's campaigns, were mistakenly buried alongside the revolutionaries. These mummies deteriorated in the Louvre's damp underground areas, and it is unclear if they were moved to the July Column's crypt in 1840. No contemporary documents confirm this, and the story remains unverified.Later additions to the monument
After the February Revolution of 1848, the remains of approximately 200 victims of that uprising were also placed in the column's crypt. The July Column thus serves as a memorial to both revolutions that shaped the reign of Louis-Philippe. Visitors can descend into the crypt via a narrow staircase, where funerary slabs commemorate both uprisings.
