{"id":74929,"date":"2021-10-22T12:11:07","date_gmt":"2021-10-22T12:11:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.headout.com\/blog\/?p=74929"},"modified":"2022-11-07T12:57:17","modified_gmt":"2022-11-07T08:57:17","slug":"paris-catacombs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.headout.com\/blog\/paris-catacombs\/","title":{"rendered":"Explore the eerie & interesting Empire of Death at the Paris Catacombs"},"content":{"rendered":"

Paris is renowned as the city of love to most. But, the city is also famous for its underground site of human remains stretching for nearly 2,000 acres. Known as the Paris Catacombs, this vast passageway resembles a labyrinth of tunnels and lies beneath the city. The remains of more than 7 million people are buried here and it extends southwards from Barri\u00e8re d’Enfer (“Gate of Hell”). <\/p>\n

Although the Catacombs extend for about 800 hectares, only a small part of it is available for the public to explore. This small spooky adventure makes it to the top list of things to do in Paris<\/a> that you must add to your itinerary. Here is all the eerie information about this less-talked part of the city that you should take note of before planning a visit. <\/p>\n

Paris Catacombs In A Nutshell<\/h2>\n

\"Paris<\/span>\"Paris<\/span>\"Paris<\/span><\/p>\n

Handy information<\/h4>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\u23f0 Suggested Duration:<\/td>\n1.5 hours <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u2600\ufe0f Best Time to Visit:<\/td>\nEvening <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\ud83d\udc9c Must See:<\/td>\nThe Barrel Of Passion<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\ud83c\udf9f\ufe0f Paris Catacombs Entry Ticket: <\/td>\n\u20ac29<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\ud83d\ude87 Closest subway station:<\/td>\n\u20ac22<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Must-see <\/h4>\n

Citadel De MahonThe Lower CatacombsThe Barrel Of PassionThe Well<\/p>\n

Things to know <\/h4>\n

Number of visitors per year: 5,50,000Depth: 65 feetBuilt in: 1810 Dating back to 5th-century ADSteps to go down: 131Steps to come up: 112<\/p>\n

Opening Hours And Address<\/h4>\n

Tuesday to Sunday – 9:45 am to 8:00 pmClosed on MondaysAddress : 1 Av. du Colonel Henri Rol-Tanguy, 75014 Paris, FranceGet Directions<\/a><\/p>\n

Why Visit The Paris Catacombs<\/h2>\n

\"Paris<\/p>\n

The Catacombs of Paris is one of the most eccentric attractions in the city. Rightly nicknamed the Empire Of Death, the Catacombs were an escape for the city\u2019s dead from the overfilled cemeteries in the 17th century. But the existing underground tunnels were already home to corpses from centuries ago, making it the most sophisticated and chilling grave to house 7 million dead.<\/p>\n

The walkway itself is fascinating in a weird way enveloped by art made of skulls and bones. A barrel made of skulls, a well made of bones, and many interesting sculptures will dare you to admire them. This combination of a spooky, historic, and morbid yet fun haul makes for a memorable visit to Paris. <\/p>\n

The Chilling Paris Catacombs History<\/h2>\n

\"Paris<\/p>\n

The underground ossuaries house the skeletal remains of more than 7 million Parisian corpses from the 5th to the 17th centuries. Since the cemeteries were overflowing in the 17th century, Louis XV banned all burials from occurring inside the capitol and instead buried them in the centuries-old underground tunnels. It took 12 long years to move the overburdened corpses under the city. Although there were bodies already buried from 1,200 years ago, the newer corpses piled up leading to extending the catacombs for 800 hectares. <\/p>\n

During WW2, the French Revolution used the tunnels and led the liberation of Paris in June 1944. In 2004, a notorious underground group called Les UX illegally established a private theatre with a giant screen, seats, film noir decor, and a fully stocked bar. The horror film, As Above, So Below was the first movie to be shot in the catacombs in 2014. <\/p>\n

Paris Catacombs Tickets<\/h2>\n

While you can buy the tickets at the Catacombs ticket gate, you will also need to stand in long waiting lines as the Catacombs see as many as 1600 visitors each day. To beat the long queues, explore the spooky grounds of Paris with Paris Catacombs skip-the-line tickets<\/a> which also include an audio guide that takes you through the past and present of the Empire Of Death. <\/p>\n

What To See In The Paris Catacombs <\/h2>\n

Although the Catacombs are acres in area, you can only explore 2 km of it. Here are the highlights of this eerie escapade. <\/p>\n

\"\"Citadel De Mahon<\/p>\n

A French army veteran by the name of Decur\u00e9 who had spent time in Menorca created a fascinating exhibit remaking the Citadel De Mahon. The copy of the fortress was carved perfectly from memory by Decur\u00e9. Unfortunately, he died while building a staircase to the rendering and it is said that his ghost still haunts the sculpture. <\/p>\n

Image Courtesy: @hallthetraveler<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"The Lower Catacombs <\/p>\n

To know the inner workings of the underground city, you can cross over to the lower catacombs from the upper catacombs with the help of a ramp. You can see up to five levels of quarries in the suburbs of Paris. In places like the cemetery of Montparnasse, you can find many working galleries in the lower catacombs where skeletal remains lie all over the floor instead of being shelved. <\/p>\n

\"\"The Barrel Of Passion<\/p>\n

Although unclear of its origins, the Barrel Of Passions, a barrel made of bones and skulls first came to fame during the illegal underground party in 1897. It is located in the center of the area called the Crypt of Passion. <\/p>\n

\"\"The Well<\/p>\n

Right after the never-ending spiral staircase you\u2019ll chance upon The Well. It was the first geological drilling done in Pars to identify the geological layers of the city. The most surprising discovery in the water at the end of the well cannot even be seen because of its clarity. For this reason, you\u2019ll see the words \u2018Bain de pieds des Carriers\u2019 engraved on its wall which loosely translates to the foot bath of the Quarrymen. <\/p>\n

\"Paris Paris Catacombs Tours <\/p>\n

Are Paris Catacombs Tours Worth Your Time?<\/h2>\n

Most definitely! Explore all of the above with an local guide who knows the dark alleyways and spine-chilling stories of the Catacombs like no other. <\/a><\/p>\n

Paris Catacombs Entrance<\/h2>\n

The entrance is located at 1, Avenue du Colonel Henri Rol-Tanguy (place Denfert-Rochereau), 75014 Paris<\/a>. It is just located just minutes away from the bus and subway stops. You have 131 steps to go down to the catacombs and 112 steps to climb back up the entrance. The tour is a one-way circuit, so the entrance and exit are in different locations. The exit is located at 36 RUE REMY DUMONCEL 75014 and is close to Mouton Duvernet subway station. To learn more, read our comprehensive blog about Paris Catacombs entrance<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Visiting The Paris Catacombs <\/h2>\n

Paris Catacombs Opening Hours <\/h3>\n

Tuesday to Sunday – 9:45 am to 8:00 pmClosed on Mondays.<\/p>\n

Getting There<\/h3>\n

By Car<\/strong> : From central Paris, it takes about 15 to 18 minutes to get to the Catacombs by car via Av. du G\u00e9n\u00e9ral Leclerc. By Bus<\/strong> : Board Line Bus 38 from Saint-Michel – Saint-Germain bus station to the Catacombs. The ride only takes only 12 minutes. By Taxi<\/strong> : It takes about 5-8 minutes to get to the Catacombs from Paris city center by taxi. By Metro<\/strong> : Line 4 Subway from Cit\u00e9 (Paris Metro) to Saint-Jacques takes just 12 minutes. The Catacombs entrance is only a 5-minute walk from the Saint-Jacques stop. <\/p>\n

Best Time To Visit Paris Catacombs <\/h2>\n

The best time of the day to visit the Paris Catacombs is in the evenings. Enter a couple of hours before the closing time (8 pm) to make the most of your visit, and skip the tourist swarm. <\/p>\n

The best time in the year to visit the Catacombs is from June to August and September to October. While June to August, Paris experiences pleasant weather, the crowds are generally larger. During September to October Paris experiences Autumn with less rain, sweater weather, and thinner crowds. <\/p>\n

Catacombs of Paris Map <\/h2>\n

\"Paris<\/p>\n

Image Courtesy: Wikipedia<\/a><\/p>\n

Tips For First Time Paris Catacombs Explorers<\/h2>\n