Last Updated: 9/30/20 | September 20th, 2020
Paris may be known as the City of Lights but it hides a dark and disturbing history.
Underneath the city, there is a enormous honeycomb of tunnels. The system is a huge maze and no one knows quite how numerous tunnels or chambers there are out there (that’s how big it is). (Paris is, after all, a very old city that has been built and rebuilt numerous times.) What we do know is that there are at least 320km (200 miles) of tunnels under the city. It’s a literal maze.
These tunnels and chambers are what is left of rock quarries that used to be on the outskirts of the city. much of the limestone that built the city was extracted from these mines, but as the city grew it expanded to where the quarries were and quarries had to be abandoned.
The French resistance used these tunnels during world war II, and rave parties flourished there during the 1990s. Victor Hugo used his knowledge about the tunnel system when he wrote Les Misérables. In 1871, communards killed a group of monarchists in one chamber.
Yet, in this maze of tunnels, one part open to the public: the well-known Catacombs of Paris.
The Catacombs of Paris were “created” at the end of the 18th century. As the cemeteries filled up and had to be moved outside the city, a portion of the tunnels was turned into an ossuary (a place where human skeletons are stored) that contains the remains of millions of Parisians, who were gradually transferred here between the late eighteenth and mid-nineteenth centuries. (Fun fact: The bones were always moved at night to a ceremony made up of a procession of priests who sang along the way to the Catacombs.)
At first, they were deposited in a rather haphazard manner and the ossuary simply piled up. Eventually, the bones were organized and displayed in the way that you see them today.
Since the first day they were complete, the Catacombs have been an object of curiosity, even for royalty. In 1787, Lord of d’Artois, who became King Charles 10, went down there with the ladies from the Court. In 1814, François 1st, Emperor of Austria, went to visit and explore them while he was in Paris. In 1860, Napoleon III went there with his son. The catacomb walls are also covered in graffiti dating from the eighteenth century. everyone has left their mark on this place. towards the end of the 18th century, the catacombs became a traveler attraction and have been open to the public on a regular basis from 1867.
In the dark galleries and narrow passages, you’ll see bones organized in a macabre display. Catacombs are eerie. They are quiet, dark, damp, and a bit downright depressing. There are lots of bones around and many of them are just stacked up on each other. You’ll never know who is who – that skull you are taking a look at could be someone who died from the afflict or be a rich aristocrat. On ne sait jamais!
I’ve went to this site multiple times and I always find it very creepy yet very interesting. I’ve been to numerous unusual places over the years, and the Catacombs of Paris is certainly one of the best. The history is fascinating and you can see the markings and initials from the centuries of visitors on the walls.
Interesting Facts about the Catacombs of Paris
Here are a few interesting facts about this unusual traveler attraction:
The depth of the Catacombs is equivalent to a five-story building.
The area is 2 kilometers long.
It takes at least 45 minutes to explore the Catacombs.
The constant temperature in the Catacombs is 14 Celsius.
The surface area of the ossuary is 11,000 square meters.
There are over 6 million dead Parisians here.
Both sides in WWII used the Catacombs for clandestine operations. The Germans built hidden bunkers while the French Resistance used the tunnels for navigating the city unopposed.
There are secret, unmapped pools in the Catacombs that explorers visit and swim in (but people have also gotten lost down here and died so don’t go exploring by yourself).
How to visit the Catacombs
To get to the Catacombs of Paris, you can take the subway and the RER to Denfert-Rochereau or use Bus 38 and 68. The museum is open Tuesday-Sunday from 10am-8:30pm (closed Mondays).
The number of visitors is limited to 200 at a time so the line can get really long. I highly recommend reserving your space in advancement to avoid the line. (Seriously, the line gets to be hours long!). If you can’t reserve a spot online, make sure you get there as early as possible.
Advance tickets cost 24 EUR while last-minute tickets at the door cost 14 EUR (last-minute tickets are currently unavailable due to COVID; you need to book in advancement until the pandemic ends).
There are audio guides available in English, French, German and Spanish for an extra 5 EUR. They are certainly worth the money if you don’t have a guide as they add a lot of historical context to your visit.
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Visiting the Catacombs is one ofMes activités préférées à Paris. C’est quelque chose que je vous recommande fortement de ne pas sauter. Il ne faut que environ une heure pour l’errer complètement et vous donnera une compréhension beaucoup plus nuancée de Paris.
Ne le sautez pas.
Obtenez votre vaste guide budgétaire de Paris!
Pour des informations beaucoup plus importantes, consultez mon guide à Paris écrit pour les voyageurs à petit budget comme vous! Il coupe les peluches trouvés dans d’autres guides et obtient directement les informations utiles dont vous avez besoin pour voyager à Paris. Vous trouverez des itinéraires suggérés, des budgets, des moyens d’économiser de l’argent, des choses sur les chemins et les chemins à pied à voir et à faire, des restaurants non touristiques, des marchés, des bars, des conseils de transport et de sécurité, et bien plus encore! Cliquez ici pour en savoir beaucoup plus et obtenez votre copie aujourd’hui!
Réservez votre voyage à Paris: suggestions et astuces logistiques
Réservez votre vol
Utilisez Skyscanner ou Momondo pour trouver un vol bon marché. Ce sont mes deux moteurs de recherche préférés parce qu’ils recherchent des sites et des compagnies aériennes du monde entier, donc vous savez toujours qu’aucune pierre n’est laissée. Commencez par Skyscanner d’abord car ils ont la portée la plus importante!
Réservez votre hébergement
Vous pouvez réserver votre auberge avec HostelWorld car ils ont l’inventaire le plus important et les meilleures offres. Si vous voulez rester ailleurs qu’une auberge, utilisez Booking.com car ils renvoient régulièrement les tarifs les plus abordables pour les maisons d’hôtes et les hôtels bon marché. Mes endroits préférés où séjourner sont:
Canal de Saint-Christophe
3 Ducks Hostel
Les piaux
Si vous cherchez beaucoup plus d’endroits où séjourner, ici pour mes auberges préférées à Paris. Si vous vous demandez dans quelle partie de la ville séjourner, voici ma rupture de quartier de la ville.
N’oubliez pas l’assurance voyage
L’assurance voyage vous protégera contre la maladie, les blessures, le vol et les annulations. C’est une protection étendue au cas où quelque chose se passe mal. Je ne vais jamais en voyage sans cela car j’ai dû l’utiliser à plusieurs reprises dans le passé. Mes entreprises préférées qui offrent le meilleur service et la meilleure valeur sont:
Aile de sécurité (pour tous moins de 70 ans)
Assurer mon voyage (pour ceux de plus de 70 ans)
MedJet (pour une couverture de rapatriement supplémentaire)
Vous cherchez les meilleures entreprises avec lesquelles économiser de l’argent?
Consultez ma page de ressources pour les meilleures entreprises à utiliser lorsque vous voyagez. Je répertorie tous ceux que j’utilise pour économiser de l’argent lorsque je suis sur la route. Ils vous feront économiser de l’argent lorsque vous voyagerez aussi.
Vous voulez beaucoup plus d’informations sur Paris?
Assurez-vous de visiter notre robuste guide de destination sur Paris pour encore beaucoup plus de conseils de planification!