Catacombs Paris Overview
Highlights of Catacombs Paris
- Book the skip-the-line Paris Catacombs Tickets to explore this famous attraction of Paris to avoid the stress of long waiting lines.
- Your Catacombs Paris tickets will allow you to explore the underground rooms and tunnels filled with the bones of over six million Parisians stacked up in walls and columns.
- You can also explore the ossuary, the most incredible and complex labyrinth, and find out why these catacombs were dug in the middle ages and filled with the deceased.
- Learn about the 2000 years of Parisian history with an informative audio guide incorporated in the Catacombs of Paris tickets.
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Things to See Inside Catacombs of Paris
The Barrel is a symmetrical, barrel-shaped object entirely made up of human skulls and bones. The Barrel gets used as a symbol of the passion of the people buried in the Catacombs. It also acts as a foundation, clasping the roof of the Catacombs since it is gigantic in shape.
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The visitors can cross the Upper Catacombs to the Lower Catacombs via a supporting gradient. The lower levels of the Catacombs are the oldest and most atmospheric. They get used to store the bones of people who had died from disease or other causes in the 18th and 19th centuries. Today, they are a popular tourist attraction.
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It is a life-sized sculpture created by an unknown artist named Decure. The carving is a replica of the fortress of Mahon, the capital of the island of Minorca. The legend says that Decure was a Minorcan soldier who got captured by the French during the siege of Mahon. He decided to create the sculpture as a way to remember his homeland.
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One of the more unique features of the Catacombs is the underground well. This well is in the center of the Catacombs, and the water in the well is deep turquoise. It got used as the only water-spring by the quarrymen who worked inside the Catacombs. Although the well is centuries old, it still contains lots of water.
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Architecture of Catacombs of Paris
- Architect Claude-Nicolas Ledoux drew the general design and the height of the Catacombs. He designed two balanced rectangular buildings facing each other on both sides of the path connecting Orleans and Paris. He based his design on the propylaea of old Greece, which were full of hallways placed at the opening to a sanctuary.
- The two rectangular buildings got made on four levels: the ground floor, mezzanine, first floor, and the attic. On the main face of the building, a central flight of steps led to a roofed doorway with three passageways on baseless Tuscan columns. These columns got longer on the ground floor. The middle passageway forms a Venetian window.
- The Catacombs consists of the only artwork of Jean-Guillaume Moitte which is a carved frieze, elegantly made good-looking with women dressed in polished items and holding medallions. The roof was constructed out of slate. In 1840, the slate roof of the building was replaced with zinc. There were more great changes done to the building later on. The grillwork that stopped the connecting path got different, and the rectangular buildings got reassigned. In 1820, the east part of the building got changed into an army building. It is to separate the town watchman and the divisions of the police force.
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Facts about the Catacombs of Paris
- The Catacombs are home to hundreds of miles of tunnels.
- The tunnels are labyrinthine, and it is easy to get lost. There have been reports of people disappearing inside the Catacombs.
- The Catacombs were created in the 18th century to address the overcrowded problem of cemeteries in Paris.
- The Catacombs are home to the remains of almost six million people.
- Robbers once used the walls of the Catacombs to rob a Parisian apartment.
- The Catacombs are open to the public for tours – but get warned, they are not for the faint of heart.
- The Catacombs also underwent many changes in the 19th century, when Paris was undergoing some changes too.
- Mushrooms are grown inside the Catacombs of Paris.
- The French Resistance Movement once used the Catacombs of Paris during the 2nd world war.
- It almost took 12 years to move the remains of the cemeteries in Paris to the Catacombs.
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History of the Catacombs of Paris
The Catacombs are in the 14th arrondissement, near the Denfert-Rochereau Metro station. But previously, it was located outside the city gates. Here the bones from the Saint-Nicolas-des-Champs cemetery were transferred. Further remains were brought together at the Catacombs of Paris over the years. It includes those who died in mass violent outbursts during the French Revolution. The Catacombs have been a curious place to the royals throughout different periods. In 1787, Lord of d'Artois, also known as Charles X, went down there with the ladies from the Court. In 1814, Francois the 1st, the great ruler of Austria, went there and had a look for them while he was in Paris.
The walls also have graffiti images sourced from the 18th century. After the end of the 18th century, this place became a tourist attraction. It has been open to the public on a regular basis since 1867. In recent times, the throughways connected to the Catacombs got used by the French Revolution in the 2nd World War. Victor Hugo also used his knowledge about the place when he wrote Les Miserables. In 1871, the communards killed monarchists in one room.
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Plan Your Visit to Catacombs of Paris
1. Timings
The Catacombs are only open to the public from Tuesday to Sunday, from 9.45 am to 8.30 pm. However, the ticket counter closes at 7.30 pm. So you will need to pick a day during that time frame. They are closed on Mondays and certain holidays.
2. Duration: You will need to decide how long you want to spend in the Catacombs. The average visit takes about forty-five minutes to an hour, but you may want to spend more or less time depending on your interests.
3. Location
The Catacombs are located underground, so visitors will need to take a staircase down into the depths of the earth. The staircase is located at the entrance to the Catacombs, on Place Denfert-Rochereau. There are 131 steps to go down and almost around 112 steps to climb up.
- Low Season for the Paris Catacombs Tour:
The low season for the Paris Catacombs tour is from November to March. During this time, there are fewer crowds, and the weather is cool and crisp, which some may find more ideal than the summer heat. However, it should be noted that the Catacombs are closed on Mondays during the low season.
- High Season for the Paris Catacombs Tour:
The High season for the Paris Catacombs tour is from April to October. This is when the weather is warmest and the crowds are at their largest. Try to book your Catacombs Paris Tickets during this time. However, the Catacombs are open every day during the high season, so if you are looking to avoid the crowds, you may want to plan your visit for mid-week.
To get to the Catacombs, you can take the Metro lines 4 and 6 to the Denfert-Rochereau station. From there, it is a short walk to the entrance of the Catacombs.
You can also take the RER B train line from Chatelet-Les-Halles station to the station called "Denfert-Rochereau". This commuter train line covers Charles de Gaulle airport to the North of Paris city center and Orly airport down South and stops at Denfert-Rochereau as well.
Another simplest way is to take bus lines number 38 and 68 from anywhere in Paris and get off at Denfert-Rochereau.
Individuals with a heart condition, respiratory problems, motor disability, or are pregnant, should not visit the Paris Catacombs. Wheelchairs are not accessible here.
The Catacombs are also not suitable for children under the age of 14. If you do bring children with you, be sure to stay with them at all times and keep them close to you.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, it is highly recommended to wear a face mask during the visit.
Visitors must wash their hands before entering the tunnel and must keep a safe distance from each other.
Buy the Paris Catacombs Tickets online in advance, way before your visit. In this way, you will be able to skip the long queue and continue your tour without any stress.
Choose your clothing and accessories wisely. It is best to wear everything as comfortable as you can.
The walls and the arrangements of bones and skulls are just for display. Touching them is highly prohibited there.
There are some spots inside the Catacombs that are highly restricted for visitors. So it is better to take a guided tour. You can book the guided tour in the Catacombs Paris Tickets along with other packages. Guided tours are available in English, French, Spanish, and German. Exploring on your own is highly restricted here.
FAQ's of Catacombs of Paris
Do you need tickets to see the Catacombs in Paris?
Yes. You do need Catacombs Paris Tickets to enter the site. Tickets can get purchased online. General admission tickets can get bought through our website.
Do I need to book Catacombs of Paris tickets in advance?
Yes. It is better to book the Paris Catacombs Tickets in advance, a month before the visit, through our website.
You can reserve your turn in line and get the tour inside without trouble. Otherwise, if you cut the Paris Catacombs Tickets at the entrance, you have to wait in a long queue, sometimes for four hours, and then you should wait for your turn to enter. Purchasing the Paris Catacombs Tickets in advance can help you prepare for your visit accordingly.
What is the best way to book Catacombs of Paris tickets?
The best way is to book the Paris Catacombs Tickets online, in advance, through our website. If you book online, you must select a time slot for your visit.
When you book the Catacombs Paris Tickets, you must choose between the regular and audio tours. The regular tour is a self-guided tour that takes you through the main sections of the Catacombs. The audio tour is a guided tour that lasts about an hour and includes a headset that you can use to listen to commentary about the Catacombs.
When was the Paris Catacombs built?
The Paris Catacombs were built in the 18th century to house the remains of over six million people.
Are the Catacombs of Paris worth visiting?
Yes, the Catacombs of Paris are worth visiting to explore Parisian history and to see the wonders that are built underground in Paris.
How long does it take to tour the Catacombs of Paris?
The official tour takes about 45 minutes to one hour, but if you want to take your time and explore more of the tunnels, you could easily spend a couple of hours down there. But a guide must be there with you.
Are the Paris Catacombs open all year?
The Catacombs are open every day of the year. They are a great way to escape the heat of the summer or the cold of the winter. If you are looking for a cold place to visit in Paris in summer, the Catacombs are worth a visit.
How many steps to go down to the Paris Catacombs?
There are 131 steps to go down and 112 steps to climb up.
Are the skulls in the Catacombs real?
Some skulls are real, while others are replicas made from plaster or other materials. It is hard to say which ones are which, but some clues can help you figure it out.
For example, many of the skulls have damage from gunshot wounds or other trauma. It is likely a sign that they are historical, as replica skulls would not have such damage.
Another clue is the level of detail on the skulls. The more realistic ones may be replicas, while the crude ones are real.
Who is buried in the Paris Catacombs?
The Catacombs are filled with the remains of Parisians of all ages and from all walks of life. Many of the bodies got buried during times of epidemics or other mass deaths. As a result, the Catacombs gets often referred to as the "city of the dead."
Which are the best attractions to see in Paris?
Here is the list of best attractions to see in Paris:
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