Paris Catacombs

Sixty-five feet beneath the lively streets of Paris lies what is perhaps the City of Light’s unlikeliest attraction. Not for the faint of heart, the Catacombes de Paris are home to the bones of over six million late Parisians. Its narrow subterranean passageways date back to the 13th century, when they were used to mine the limestone that helped build the city. By the late 18th century, these old quarries were beginning to collapse under the weight of a rapidly expanding Paris. At the same time, the cemeteries at the center French capital were faced with overcrowding. The catacombs were seen as a solution that would solve both problems. Moving old remains underground into the mines prevented them from collapse and eased crowding at the cemeteries. The catacombs have been a site of fascination ever since they opened in the early 19th century and remain open today as one of the city’s most unique attractions.

Visiting

Your journey into the Paris Catacombs starts above ground at Place Denfert-Rochereau. A small green pavilion marks the entrance to the site. Only 200 visitors are allowed in the catacombs at any one time, so it’s not unusual to see a line wrapping around the square. Once through the front entrance, you’ll descend down 130 steps to reach the tunnels 65 feet beneath street level. The entrance to the ossuary, where all the bones are stored, is about a 15-minute walk from here. As you make your way down the long limestone tunnel, you’ll come across a large sculpture of Port-Mahon fortress. This remarkable work of art was carved right into the limestone back when the tunnels were used for mining.

The scale of the catacombs becomes apparent as you enter the main part of the ossuary, which is marked with a stone inscription reading “Arrête! C'est ici l'empire de la Mort” (Stop! This is the Empire of the Dead). Thick walls of bones are stacked right up to the ceiling, and rows of skulls break layers of long bones. Some of the bones are arranged in an artistic manner. Most notably, one wall features a “heart” made of skulls. The total tour stretches about 2 kilometers (1¼ miles) and ends with an 83-step ascent back up to street level. Most visits last around 45 minutes.

History

Below the streets of Paris lies a maze of limestone quarries that have long played a role in the city’s history. Most are situated in the southern part of the city, which was the chosen site for the Catacombes de Paris. The need for a subterranean ossuary in the late 18th century arose from a rather unpleasant problem: The cemeteries of central Paris were so full that the smell of rotting bodies had become unbearable to local residents.

Burials were banned in the center of the city to help with the odor, but at this point the church was against moving existing bodies from the central cemeteries. The burial ban helped the situation in the short term, but heavy spring rains in 1780 introduced more problems as the oversaturated ground caused cellar collapses near Les Innocents, the largest cemetery in Paris at the time. As a result, many bodies were disturbed and disease broke out across the city. At the same time, the centuries-old quarries underneath southern Paris were beginning to cave in. To solve both issues, the church finally relented and the city began to transport old remains from central cemeteries into the abandoned and collapsing quarries to the south.

The macabre process of transporting the bones of six million late Parisians was done with respect to the dead. Priests accompanied the remains during transport and the task was mainly carried out at night, so as not to disturb the local residents. Most of the bones in the ossuary were already centuries old when they were moved. However, it was also used as a burial site during the French Revolution all the way up until 1860.

Paris Perfect's Personal Tip

Because only 200 visitors are allowed inside at a time, long lines can form outside the catacombs. Before you visit, check the official website for advice on the best times to visit. It should also be noted that regardless of what the weather is like above ground, the catacombs remains a steady 14°C (57°F). Summer visitors will probably want to bring along a light jacket to stay warm.

Essential Information

• Address: Catacombes de Paris 1, avenue du Colonel Henri Rol-Tanguy (place Denfert-Rochereau) 75014 Paris
• Closest Metro: Denfert-Rochereau
• Website: http://www.catacombes.paris.fr/en/homepage-catacombs-official-website
• Opening Times: Open daily from 10am to 8pm, except Mondays and 1st May.