Underneath the city of Paris, you’ll find a honeycomb of tunnels. The French resistance used these tunnels during World War II, and rave parties flourished there during the 90s. 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. During World War II, the French Resistance used the tunnel system. The tunnel system is a maze and no one knows quite how many tunnels or chambers there are out there.
Yet in this maze of tunnels, you’ll find one part open to the public- the famous Catacombs of Paris. The Catacombs of Paris were created at the end of the 18th century. From the late seventeenth century, Paris’ largest cemetery, Les Innocents, became too filled with bodies, and neighbors began suffering from disease due to contamination caused by improper burials and open mass graves. Neither the cemetery, nor many of the others for that matter, couldn’t keep with the growth of Paris. After multiple complaints by residents, the Council of State in November 9, 1785 pronounced the removal and the evacuation of the cemetery.
The removal of the bones began on April 7, 1786 and continued until 1788. The bones were always moved at night, according to a ceremony made up of a procession of priests who sang the burial service along the way with the bones covered by a black veil.
Since the first day they were complete, the Catacombs have been an object curiosity. In 1787, Lord of d’Artois, who will become 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. Not only have royalty visited them, but everyday people too. The catacomb walls are covered in graffiti dating from the eighteenth century. Everyone has left their mark on the place. Towards the end of the 18th century, the catacombs became a tourist attraction and have been open to the public on a regular basis from 1867.
The catacombs are eerie. They are quiet, dark, damp, and a bit downright depressing. There are lots of bones around and most of them are just stacked up on each other. You’ll never know who is who- that skull you are looking at could have died from the plague or could have been an aristocrat. You never know.
To get to the catacombs, you can take the subway and the RER to Denfert-Rochereau or use 38 and 68. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day except Monday. Last admission is at 4 p.m. Visits are limited to 200 visitors in the site (entries can be stopped temporarily) and it costs 7 Euros.
I definitely believe that the catacombs are depressing and eerie. But I still wish that I would have gone there when I had the chance. Another great reason to go back to Paris. Thanks
I see dead peeps!
I wouldn’t fancy being there overnight
Really raves? That’s such a bad idea, but I would have loved to experience that!
Great post,
I remember seeing a documentary on them once, and thought, hey, thats neat. But never knew about all the famous “A-list historical figures” who visited them. That alone is a cool enough reason to go. I’m hoping to someday live in Paris, or at least in France somewhere, I’ll be sure to check this out once I get there. Looks very intriguing.
it is! reminds me a lot of the kuta hora bone church in prague
These sound really cool in, as you write, an eerie sort of way. Like the Killing Fields meets a caving expedition. Will absolutely check it out next time I’m in Paris.
thats a real depressing story. But very intresting as well. To have all those bones stacked ontop of each other like that, creepy.
Sounds super-cool, Matto. I like being underground. There’s a similar attraction in Beijing, dating from the cold-war.
If I ever get to Paris…
This is an absolute must-see! The one thing I didn’t like was the 80-something stair walk-up after you’ve been roaming around the eerie maze of skulls and bones for quite awhile! The walk down was longer, but it’s obviously easier to go down. I was also amused to see so many people getting busted for removing remains. Too many people attempt to take a little something with them when they leave the Catacombs.
i dunno why you would want to take bones…people have weird fetishes lol
Very interesting all these places. You can check also if you like the following:
http://www.trifter.com/Europe/Italy/Palermo-The-Capuchin-Catacombs-The-Museum-of-the-Dead.685983
Oooh, definitely worth a visit if you like something a bit macabre! It’s good to hear about some of the lesser-known tourist attractions in Paris. I’ve been writing a guide to France for the Auto Europe website, and I’ve tried to steer clear of the usual haunts (no pun intended…) but I hadn’t heard of this one.
@jen I agree, a rave in the catacombs would be eerie but interesting… big basslines bouncing off of skulls and bones… could have a unique sound to it! You’d have to have a pirate theme to it.
I find it funny King Charles 10 took ladies down in the catacombs.. “c’mon my darling, lets sit down and gaze at the femurs and ankles, it’s so sexy”
All in all I look forward to visiting the catacombs when in Paris!
raves would be interesting down in the tunnels!!! creepy but really cool!
Very cool! Creepy, but cool. This is going on my to-do list for an eventual trip to Paris.
On our 12 hour jaunt through Paris on our layover between Santiago and Johannesburg, we made time to tour the catacombs. It was my second visit, Jeff’s first. The first time I was there the lights went out halfway through our visit. I think they were probably out for less than a minute but it felt like an eternity.
After seeing Phantom of the Opera, how can everyone not want to get a trip through the catacombs. The way I see it, it is a little like Disneyland’s Pirates of the Caribbean without the bells and whistles and yes this is real. Haunting of course, but that what makes the place so attractive and eerie.