Beneath the bustling streets of Paris lies the eerie yet captivating Paris Catacombs, an underground cemetery created to solve the city’s overflowing burial grounds. Despite visiting Paris three times, I had never ventured into this subterranean labyrinth—until our fourth trip, when we finally made it a priority. If you’re planning to explore this hauntingly beautiful piece of history, be sure to book your tickets in advance to skip the long lines and fully immerse yourself in one of the most unique experiences Paris has to offer.
To Get There
- Catacombs of Paris Address: 1 Av. du Colonel Henri Rol-Tanguy, 75014 Paris, France
- Metro:
- Line 4: Get off at Denfert-Rochereau station and follow the signs to the Catacombs.
- Line 6: Get off at Denfert-Rochereau station and follow the signs to the Catacombs.
- RER B: Get off at Denfert-Rochereau station and follow the signs to the Catacombs.
- Bus:
- Lines 38 and 68: Stop at Denfert-Rochereau.
- By Foot or Bicycle:
- If you are nearby, walking or cycling is a pleasant way to reach the Catacombs. There are bike racks available for parking.
- Tickets:
- Advance Tickets: It’s highly recommended to buy tickets online in advance to avoid long waiting times. Tickets can be purchased from the official website or authorized sellers.
- On-Site Tickets: If you haven’t purchased tickets in advance, you can buy them on-site, but be prepared for potentially long lines, especially during peak tourist seasons.
The History of the Paris Catacombs
The Paris Catacombs have always fascinated me—an underground labyrinth holding the skeletal remains of over six million people. These tunnels were not originally built for the dead; they date back to the 13th century as limestone quarries, providing the stone used to construct many of Paris’s most famous landmarks. By the late 18th century, however, the city’s cemeteries had become dangerously overcrowded, leading to severe health hazards due to improper burials and decomposing remains. To address this crisis, city officials began transferring human remains to the abandoned quarries in 1786, repurposing them into a vast underground gravesite.
The relocation of bones continued for decades, and in 1809, the Paris Catacombs officially opened to the public. This eerie yet mesmerizing ossuary spans over 200 miles, though only a small portion is accessible to visitors today. Within its dimly lit corridors, walls of carefully arranged skulls and bones create a haunting yet artistic display, offering a glimpse into a darker chapter of Paris’s history. Walking through the Catacombs is both unsettling and captivating, a unique experience that unveils the hidden depths beneath the City of Light.
The Catacombs Self Guided Tour
We walked down, down, down into the cold, dark tunnels of death that twist and turn beneath the bustling city above. The ceilings are low, creating a sense of claustrophobia, and some hallways are incredibly narrow, with only the chilling echoes of our footsteps and the faint, rhythmic sound of drops of condensation for company. After what feels like an eternity in the dimly lit passageways, you finally arrive at the eerie sight of bones, meticulously arranged in orderly patterns that tell a haunting story of those who came before. If you take the audio guide, you can learn more about the fascinating Paris Catacombs and the intricate history of Paris along the way, uncovering the secrets that lie hidden within these ancient walls and understanding the significance of this burial site in the city’s storied past.
Tip: Bring a jacket, it gets cold 5 stories below the earth’s surface
I highly recommend visiting this intriguing destination, which offers a captivating experience in Paris’ underground. Looking for more unique things to do in Paris? Check out My Favorite Five: Paris.
Do you know of any any other interesting sites in Paris? Please leave them in the comments below.