Paris Catacombs Tour | Discover a Unique Side to the City of Love
Paris is a city deeply rooted in history, art, culture, romance, and glamour. A few popular attractions that usually come to mind when we think of the City of Love are usually Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum, Notre Dame de Paris, and more, but there is so much more to Paris than these popular monuments.
A creepy, eerie, and open graveyard located 20 meters under the streets of the city, the Paris Catacombs is your best bet if you’re looking for an offbeat, out-of-the-box experience to remember forever. The Catacombs are home to the remains and graves of over 6 million Parisians dating back to the 1700s. Learn more about this quirky attraction on a Paris Catacombs tour! Here’s what you should know.
Why Take a Paris Catacombs Guided Tour?
The Paris Catacombs may not be as popular as the Eiffel Tower or other tourist attractions in the city, but it offers a unique experience to those visiting the site. We’ve listed a few reasons why you should take a Paris Catacombs tour.
- A Paris Catacombs tour is your best option if you want to know more about the place because it includes an expert guide who knows the place through and through.
- Choosing a Paris Catacombs tour with a skip the line feature will allow you to skim past long queues because it guarantees priority access to the attraction.
- A guided tour is your best chance to gain in-depth knowledge about the history and significance of the attraction.
- The Paris Catacombs can be difficult to navigate on your own, which is why we suggest you book yourself a guided tour because it will help you explore the place better and more efficiently.
- The expert possesses in-depth knowledge of the Catacombs making it easier for you to know interesting stories about the remains of the 6 million Parisians buried here.
- The Paris Catacombs usually see large crowds of tourists every day. Guided tours make access to the attraction quicker.
All Your Paris Catacombs Tour Options
Guided Tours vs Non-Guided Tours
Guided Tours
- Your Paris Catacombs guided tour includes an expert guide, who has in-depth knowledge of the Paris Catacombs. They will give you all the information you need and can also narrate interesting stories about the attraction.
- The skip the line feature on your Paris Catacombs tour ticket allows you to skim past long queues by guaranteeing priority access to the graveyard.
- Guided tours have a fixed itinerary that includes all the major points of interest you should visit within the attraction. It makes it easier to get around a place as eerie and complex as the Paris Catacombs.
- A guided tour includes a small group of people for a more wholesome and interactive experience.
Non-Guided Tours
- Regular entry tickets allow you to explore the catacombs at your own pace.
- You can also get yourself an audio guide (available in German, Spanish, English, and French languages) at the entrance to know about the history of the graveyard and navigate your way around the attraction.
- A general admission ticket will not allow you to skip the line or walk past long queues, which means that you will have to wait in line to enter the attraction.
Highlights Covered on Your Paris Catacombs Tour
Port-Mahon Corridor
The Port-Mahon Corridor is a replica of the Port Mahon Palace located in Menorca, Spain. Francois Decure, a French quarryman who was imprisoned at this palace in Spain when he was a soldier, sculpted it on a limestone wall by memory and later died on the same spot while working on an access stairway for visitors. The corridor is one of the most beautiful and fascinating sculptures on display inside the Paris Catacombs.
The Ossuary
The Ossuary is one of the creepiest sections of the Catacombs because it contains the remains of over 6 million Parisians dating back to the 1700s. There are piles of skulls and bones arranged in symmetrical patterns along the entire stretch. You will also find the Barrel of Passion, where the remains of the deceased have been arranged or put on display in the shape of a barrel.
It is also spooky because of an entrance sign that bears a creepy inscription saying, “Arrête! C’est ici l’empire de la Mort”, which, in English, means, “Stop! This is the Empire of the Dead”. This inscription is the first thing you’ll notice when you enter the Catacombs Ossuary.
The Quarryman’s Footpath
The Quarryman’s Footpath is hundreds of years old. It is named after the quarrymen, who used the footpath inside the Catacombs long before the graveyard had defined pathways, stairways, and tunnels. The quarrymen used this footpath to get water for construction purposes as well as to clean themselves up after finishing work for the day. Get a glimpse of different kinds of altars, tombs, plaques, as well as several skulls and bones arranged in symmetrical patterns.
Underground Well
One of the most interesting points of attraction inside the Paris Catacombs is an underground well with water that is deep turquoise in colour. This well served as the source of water for the quarrymen, who worked inside the Catacombs. Surprisingly, the well still contains enough water despite being centuries old.
Entry Sign
One of the first things you notice before entering the Catacombs is the entry sign. The main Catacombs network is ominously marked to warn you of the macabre ambiance inside. The entrance to the ossuary bears a haunting inscription, saying, ‘Arrête! C’est ici l’empire de la Mort’ which can be translated to ‘Stop! This is the Empire of the Dead’.
Barrel of Passion
Right in the (so-called) heart of the Catacombs lies the ironically-titled prime attraction, the Barrel of Passion. Located in the Crypt of Passion area, prepare to spot a symmetrical, barrel-shaped structure that is made entirely out of skulls and bones. Its size is massive, which can be seen clearly since it holds up the roof as a support system.
Frequently Asked Questions About Paris Catacombs Tours
A. Yes. You can pre-book your Paris Catacombs tour online now.
A. Yes. You can book a Paris Catacombs tour here.
A. You can book a Paris Catacombs tour online.
A. A Paris Catacombs guided tour costs €119.90.
A. There is only one type of Paris Catacombs guided tour available. This tour also includes a skip the line feature.
A. The Paris Catacombs tour includes a visit to attractions inside the graveyard like the Ossuary, Quarryman’s Footpath, Barrel of Passion, Port-Mahon Corridor, and Underground Well.
A. The Paris Catacombs guided tours are available in English.
A. The Paris Catacombs tour covers all major points of interest inside the Catacombs like the Ossuary, Port-Mahon Corridor, Underground Well, Barrel of Passion, and Quarryman’s Footpath.
A. The Paris Catacombs guided tour has a maximum capacity of 19 guests. However, you can upgrade your ticket to a semi-private tour for a more intimate experience as well as access to a few restricted areas of the graveyard.
A. Yes. The Paris Catacombs tour is worth it because it is the best way to explore this eerie, complex, and spooky attraction. You gain more knowledge about the graveyard on a guided tour than by yourself.
A. Yes. The Paris Catacombs guided tours include skip the line access.
A. Yes. You can get a full refund on canceling your Paris Catacombs tour 72 hours before the scheduled date.
A. The Paris Catacombs tour is 2 hours long.
A. There are 131 steps to go down to the Catacombs, and 112 to climb up towards the exit.
A. No. There are no discounted tickets for the Paris Catacombs tour.
A. Individuals aged 14 and above can opt for a Paris Catacombs tour; children between ages 10 to 14 must be accompanied by an adult. The attraction recommends that the following groups of people avoid visiting: those with a motor disability, pregnant women, individuals with claustrophobia or any respiratory or cardiac-related health issues, children under the age of 10.
More Reads
History of the Paris Catacombs
Plan Your Visit
