Catacombs Of Paris, Paris

Underneath the beautiful city of Paris lies a massive network of tunnels and chambers that covers at least 320 km. These tunnels and chambers were left by the several rock quarries that were on the outskirts of the City. As the City of Light grew these dark quarries were closed up and abandoned. These abandoned tunnels served as a base for clandestine operations during the French Revolution and became a hit for rave parties in the 90s. 

The Catacombs of Paris was created in the 18th century when the cemeteries in the city became a whole mess of graves over graves. The graves of millions of Parisians were exhumed and the skeletons were transported to the catacombs. Initially, the bones were just scattered and piled up in a haphazard manner. But this led to the ossuary being a complete mess too. So finally, these bones and skeletal remains were stacked in an organized manner, the way it is seen today. See this largest underground ossuary and stacked bones and skeletals with our Europe tour packages.

Once it was completed, this whole system created a mass curiosity and the Catacombs became famous overnight. Royalties started visiting the Catacombs to see the remarkable results. The place grew in popularity and in the late 18th century the Catacombs of Paris was opened for the public only to become one of the most sought after tourist attractions in Paris.

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• The descent to the Catacombs is about 65 feet underground and it has a temperature of 14°C.
• Temporary exhibitions like The Dead of the French Revolution, Skeleton Story and Paris Palermo are regularly held at the Catacombs.
• There are several wells across the Paris Catacombs like The Well with its spiral staircase which is the remains of the very first geological drilling done in Paris.
• The Catacombs have several kinds of altars, plaques, tombs, skulls and bones arranged in different geometric patterns.
• The beautifully carved replica of Citadel de Mahon is something you must check out at Catacombs.Book Now To Enjoy The City Of Paris: Paris City Pass

By Train: The main entrance to the Paris Catacombs is located on Place Denfert-Rochereau which is a public square in the Montparnasse area. The nearest train station to the Paris Catacombs is Denfert - Rochereau. You can board an RER B service from any part of Paris to get here. 

By Bus: If you're taking the bus then route numbers 38, 68, 88 and 91 will take you to the nearest bus stop, Denfert-Rochereau. The entrance of the Catacombs of Paris is just a couple of minutes away.

By Metro: Metro lines 4 and 6 will take you to the nearest station, Denfert-Rochereau.

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The best time to visit Paris Catacombs during the day is either early in the morning or late in evening so that you can avoid crowds and long queues at the entrance. Since the weekends here tend to get busier than weekdays, it is highly recommended that you visit the Paris Catacombs during the weekdays. It is important to note that 200 visitors can enter the Catacombs at a time, so get there early if you want to reduce your waiting time.

The best time of the year to visit the Catacombs of Paris is during the off-season which is between October to May. Keep in mind that December, however, can get a little crowded because of the holiday season.

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• Purchase tickets in Advance as it can get crowded at the Catacombs of Paris. 
• If the tickets were purchased online, then make sure to print them as you will need to present a physical ticket to enter.
• People with knee problems, back problems, claustrophobia, pregnant ladies or those with anxiety issues should avoid a tour of the Catacombs. 
• The Paris Catacombs is not wheelchair accessible hence individuals with low mobility and those with cardiac issues are recommended not to visit the attraction. 
• Children below the age of 14 should be accompanied by an adult. 
• The temperature below ranges between 14°C to 16°C, so remember to carry a jacket.
• Allow at least an hour to explore everything at the Catacombs. 
• The Catacombs are a unique and unusual experience. The place is damp, dark and holds the human remains of over 6 million Parisians.

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