I'v been a lot down the Catacombs, and still go sometimes, but I think you have a too grandiose view of their significance.

Their most ancient existence is as stone carries, the storage of bones only started late, in the XVIIIth century.

They never really held big significance for Parisians.

Source: https://fr.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carri%C3%A8res_souterraines_...