Created in the late 18th century, the Paris Catacombs contain the remains of some six million Parisians, whose bones were transferred from cemeteries deemed unsanitary and overcrowded between the late 18th and mid-19th centuries. The part that is open to visitors, and is a small stretch of the city’s vast catacomb complex, consists of about two kilometers / 1.2 miles of long, narrow corridors dug out of limestone quarries deep underground. The catacombs offer visitors a fascinating, if decidedly morbid, display of millions of human bones and skulls, collected in elaborate, symmetrical piles.
Apparently to underscore how highly French culture values artistic expression, the ossuaries are far from utilitarian: some of the chambers are decorated with wall sculptures, and philosophical poems about life and death are on display for you to ponder as you stroll through. the galleries. Whether you’re drawn to the site’s archaeological and historical interest or a spooky underground excursion, the catacombs are certainly worth a visit. Please note, however, that it is not an ideal excursion for young children or disabled visitors – you have to descend a spiral staircase with 130 stairs and then climb 83 stairs on the way back to the exit, and younger children may find the ones Disturbing ossuaries.
The average visit is about 45 minutes.
Location and contact information
The catacombs are located in the 14th arrondissement of Paris (arrondissement), near the historic Montparnasse district, where artists and writers such as Henry Miller and Tamara de Lempicka flourished in the 1920s and 1930s.
Direction:
1, Coronel Henri Roi-Tanguy avenue, 14th district
Metro / RER: Denfert-Rochereau (Metro lines 4.6 or RER Line B)
Tel: +33 (0) 1 43 22 47 63
Fax: +33 (0) 1 42 18 56 52
Visit the official website
Opening hours, tickets and other practical details
The Catacombs recently started offering nighttime tours, which should please those of you who think it’s an attraction befitting the night. They are now open every day, except Monday, from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm The cut-off point for admission is at 7:00 pm. Visits are limited to 200 people at a time due to considerable space limitations; Therefore, it is recommended to arrive before 7:00 pm to avoid being turned away.
Tickets: Tickets for individuals can be purchased without reservation at the green box office just outside the entrance to the catacombs (cash, Visa, Mastercard accepted). For group reservations (minimum of ten people and maximum of 20), book in advance by calling the Cultural Services office at the Carnavalet Museum: +33 (0) 1 44 59 58 31. Group visits are offered only from Monday to Friday in the morning.
Restrictions and notices
- Children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult.
- Tours of the catacombs are not recommended for people suffering from heart, respiratory or anxiety disorders. As mentioned above, the catacombs lack elevators, making them less accessible to visitors with physical disabilities.
- There are no toilets or wardrobes in the catacombs.
- The tunnels are generally quite cold – bring your coats in the fall and winter.
Sights and attractions to explore nearby
- Henri Cartier Bresson Foundation (museum dedicated to photography)
- Cartier Foundation for Contemporary Art (museo de arte contemporáneo)
- Cite Internationale
- Torre Montparnasse (para fantásticas panorámicas vistas of París)
- Parc Montsouris (parque de estilo romántico)
- Barrio de Butte aux Cailles
History and highlights
At the end of the 18th century, the city authorities considered that a cemetery near the market area known as “Les Halles” and the Saint-Eustache church were unsanitary and posed a danger to public health. The exhumation of bones in the «Inocentes» cemetery , which had been in use for ten centuries and was heavily overcrowded by then, began in 1786 and continued until 1788. The quarries that now house the catacombs were carved and the exhumed bones were transferred there later. nocturnal religious ceremonies presided over by priests.
After a blessing, the bones were transferred to the quarries in wheelbarrows covered with black veils.
After undergoing intensive renovations over several months, the Catacombs reopened to the public in 2005.
Highlights of the visit: going down, going down …
Descending the long spiral staircase and out into the labyrinthine corridors of the Catacombs, one feels a bit dizzy from the spiraling movement. The first thing you’ll notice is the very low ceilings , if you’re claustrophobic you may want to brace yourself, and for the first three or four minutes you’ll be traversing empty hallways with no bones in sight. Once you arrive at the ossuaries, prepare to feel a bit in disbelief at the monumental piles of bones, arranged on each side in a fun and artistic way, and accompanied by poems reflecting on mortality (in French) .
You may find it creepy or just plain intriguing, but it is unlikely to leave you indifferent.
The recently reopened “Port Mahon” gallery contains several sculptures of a stonemason who decided to carve a model of the Port-Mahon fortress in Menorca, where the English army had taken him prisoner while fighting a war for Louis XV. It is another curiosity in this most unusual of the underground kingdoms.
What about the “other”, “unofficial” catacombs? Can I visit those?
In a word: it is illegal and highly discouraged. There are undoubtedly ways to enter the ‘unofficial’ catacombs: Essays like this offer fascinating visual details of an underground Paris that attracted a good number of aspiring vampires, artists and young people (also known as ‘cataphiles’. But trying to reach these is dangerous in all respects.
