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Face Your Mortality at the Catacombs of Paris

Published by Marjorie McAtee, Writer

Country: France

The Experience

Imagine, for a moment, a rapidly growing metropolis that gains more citizens, but also gains more dead. The existing graveyards are almost full, and the citizens are suffering from disease due to improper burial practices and the use of mass graves. They need more graveyards, but they don't have room for them. What do they do? 

For 18th century Parisians, the answer was simple—remove the bodies to a safer location. But where? Why not underground, into the vast network of subterranean tunnels, where, in Roman times, the limestone that built Paris was quarried. 

The Catacombs of Paris are one of the world's most famous burial grounds, right up there with the Egyptian pyramids. These catacombs began as limestone quarries in the Roman era, when modern day Paris was still known as Lutetia. The decision to press these quarries into service as burial grounds came in 1786, when the growing capital found that its overflowing cemeteries were spreading disease among the citizenry. 

The removal of bones into the quarries below the 14th arrondissement continued until 1814. Initially, many of the remains came from the Cemetière des Saints Innocents, located in the Les Halles district. Remains from the Cemetière de Saint-Nicolas-des-Champs were also moved, and removal always took place at night, accompanied by a ceremonial procession of priests. 

If you're curious to get a glimpse of this macabre attraction, you're not alone, as people have always been interested in touring the catacombs. As early as 1787, the Lord d'Artois, who would become Charles X of France, toured the catacombs along with members of his court. Napoleon III visited them in 1860, and today, you can visit them too. 

Though Paris's underground network of tunnels stretches beneath much of the city, tourists are allowed access to only a small part of it. While it is possible to sneak into the forbidden areas, you really shouldn't. It's illegal and dangerous, and you could get lost or hurt quite easily. Instead, stick to the 2 km route set aside as a museum. Here, you can see the bones of five to six million Parisians, some of whom lived hundreds of years ago, stacked up into often decorative arrangements. The tour is generally unguided, and takes about 45 minutes.

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Map

Puzzle

When to Go to Catacombs Of Paris

The Catacombs of Paris are underground, so you can visit them any time of year, no matter the weather. They are open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. every day, except Monday, with the last entry at 4:00 p.m.

Odds n' Ends

The Catacombs are not for everybody. You'll have to walk down 130 steps to reach them, and climb out via 83 more steps. If you suffer from heart or respiratory disease, you may want to forgo them. Young children are discouraged from visiting the Catacombs, though children under the age of 14 may visit in the company of an adult. There are no toilets and no cloakrooms in the Catacombs, and the temperature underground remains at about 14 °C (57 °F).

The Catacombs can be hard to find, and are not heavily promoted to tourists. You'll find them in a small, nondescript building at 1 Place Denfert-Rochereau, directly across from the metro station.

More Experiences Nearby

Go Gothic Visiting the Notre Dame Cathedral of Paris
Europe’s churches and cathedrals are celebrated for various reasons: breathtaking architecture, deep-seated history, and stunning stained glass windows. Religious convictions aside, Europe’s cathedrals house beautiful works of art and offer a chance for quiet reflection. Throughout my travels I’ve toured many impressive churches, but Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris is a spire above the rest. The abundance of sights available in Paris can be daunting, especially if you are tight on time. If unsure where to begin, a shuttle boat called the Batobus which travels along the Seine River is a good start as it stops at eight of Paris’ ...2 miles away.

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Books and DVDs

Frommer's Paris 2010
Paris Underground: The Maps, Stations, and Design of the Metro
Paris Underground
Walks Through Lost Paris: A Journey Into the Heart of Historic Paris

Elsewhere on the Web

Les Catacombes de Paris - Catacombes-de-paris.Fr
Paris Tourism

Media References

Dense in Death - NationalGeographic.com (movie)
Catacombs open for business - Telegraph.co.uk (newspaper)

Language Guides

French , Italian , Lao , Portugese , Spanish , Turkish , Vietnamese are some of the languages spoken in France. If you know of a freely available phrase book or podcast for one of the missing languages, let us know!

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