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Are the catacombs worth visiting?

These catacombs have a fascinating history, originally built as limestone quarries in the late 18th century, they later became the final resting place for millions of Parisians' skeletal remains. It's a unique blend of history and a bit of the eerie, which makes it a must-visit attraction in Paris.



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The Paris Catacombs have a fascinating history which dates back to ancient times, and is the final resting place of over 6 million Parisians.

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What to Know Before Visiting the Catacombs in Paris
  1. Only 200 people are allowed to tour the Paris catacombs at any given time. ...
  2. You should definitely book your Paris catacombs tickets in advance. ...
  3. … ...
  4. The catacombs in Paris are not wheelchair accessible. ...
  5. Dress the part: wear comfortable shoes and bring a jacket.


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If you're feeling confident enough to explore the catacombs on your own, you can actually purchase tickets to the Catacombs of Paris which include an audio guide at no extra cost. One of the best things about this option is that tickets are available almost every day of the week.

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To ensure preservation of the site, you must not eat or drink on the site circuit, and animals are not allowed. Any kind of alcohol is prohibited. And, of course, you must not touch the bones, which are the fragile remains of millions of Parisians.

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The temperature underground in the Catacombs is about 57° F (14° C), much cooler than Paris in summer. Bring a sweater, jacket, or scarf to help with the chill.

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A popular misconception is that going early is the best tactic to avoid lines. In fact, the best time to visit the Catacombs is around 6pm. Reserve your Catacombs quick-access ticket online for a shorter wait. Catacombs in Paris is open every Tuesday – Sunday.

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Despite the ritual with which they were transferred, the bones had simply been dumped into the tunnels in large heaps. Slowly but surely the quarrymen lined the walls with tibias and femurs punctuated with skulls which form the basis of most of the decorations that tourists see today.

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How far in advance do you need to buy your tickets. The tickets for the Catacombs are often sold out super quickly as the attraction has a limited capacity of 200 visitors per day. On the official website, you can only buy them 1 week in advance BUT you can buy them a couple of weeks in advance on the ticket resellers.

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The biggest, most popular, and most crowded site, the Catacombs of St. Callixtus, has a vast network of galleries that house the crypts of 16 popes, as well as early Christian statues and paintings. Photo Caption: Relief sculpture inside the Catacombs of Saint Sebastian in Rome.

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They form an extensive maze in which it's frighteningly easy to get lost if you are not a seasoned catacomb explorer, or 'cataphile', as these fearless souls are known. Even though only a small section of the tunnels are used as an ossuary, the entire network is referred to by Parisians as 'the Catacombes de Paris'.

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