Can you legally go into the catacombs in Paris?

Today, the only legal place to visit this underground realm is the Paris Catacombs, a nearly mile-long stretch in the 14th arrondissement that takes its name from the famous ossuary housed there.



People Also Ask

Unfortunately, the Paris Catacombs are not free. Tickets must be purchased for entry. While the cost can vary, it's important to note that the price includes access to the fascinating world beneath the city, which once were limestone quarries.

MORE DETAILS

It's Illegal, But Here Are 10 Things To Show What It's Like To Go Inside The Catacombs In Paris.

MORE DETAILS

Do the French still use the catacombs to bury the dead? No, of course not. The catacombs of Paris, a term used to name the municipal ossuary, are originally part of the former underground quarries located in the 14th district of Paris, connected by inspection galleries.

MORE DETAILS

First allowed only a few times a year with the permission of an authorized mines inspector, but later more frequently and permitted by any mine overseer, a flow of visitors degraded the ossuary to a point where the permission-only rule was restored from 1830, and the catacombs were closed completely from 1833 because ...

MORE DETAILS

The unique and fragile ossuary presented at the Paris Catacombs must not be touched. Group leaders must make their groups aware of the essential rules for preserving the works and be considerate towards other visitors. It is fordbidden to smoke, eat or drink inside the Paris Catacombs.

MORE DETAILS

Is a Tour of the Paris Catacombs Worth It? Short answer: Yes, it most definitely is. The area is an engineering marvel and full of significance—you'll find yourself getting more intrigued by the minute! Not to mention, guided tours have access to areas that are off-limits to the public.

MORE DETAILS

This isn't the first time that people have been lost in catacombs. According to Buzzfeed, legend has it that Philibert Aspairt died after getting lost in the underground maze of the Paris catacombs in 1793 — and his body wasn't found until eleven years after his death. (Ironically and tragically, close to an exit.)

MORE DETAILS

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


MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

However, the strong smell of the Paris catacombs is apparently what all the initial signs were warning sensitive visitors about. At best, it could be likened to the dusty, incense-infused scent of old stone churches, but with an underlying malaise that can only be attributed to the contents of multiple cemeteries.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

People visiting Paris get very curious to explore the Paris Catacombs because it is very different from the other attractions in the city. A lot of tourists visit this place to discover and can get quite packed at times. The best time to visit the place during the day is early morning or late in the evening.

MORE DETAILS

The tour of the Catacombs is deep underground. The walking route is about 2km, about 1.25 miles and the average independent visit takes around one hour. You will first descend 130 steps down to the Catacombs and then at the end it's an 83-step climb to street level.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

Sixty-five feet underground (twenty meters), beneath the iconic streets of Paris remains another world; a world full of darkness, death, suffering: here lies the bodies of roughly six million Parisians.

MORE DETAILS

A good guide is indispensable, and many guides occasionally refer to a map. Because of these dangers, accessing the catacombs without official escort has been illegal since 2 November 1955.

MORE DETAILS