Paris Catacombs: All You Need to Know and What to Expect!

Paris Catacombs: All You Need to Know & What to Expect!

Having the reputation for one of the most unique and visited tourist destinations, the Paris catacombs are often impossible to get tickets for. Either that, or the lines are ridiculously long! However, the combination of COVID-19 and low season gave us the perfect opportunity to visit this infamous underground empire during December of 2021. I was truly shocked but of course, thrilled that having landed in Paris in the morning, I was able to roam around the tunnels dead by evening!

My husband and I were wandering around the neighborhood and had the random idea to check if the Catacombs were open. Not only was it open but there was no line! Here is what went down at our impromptu visit of the Paris Catacombs and what to expect when you visit.

Overview

Where: 14th Arrondissement
Price: 15 euros day of purchase / 3 euros additional for audio guide (English available)
How to get tickets: Ticket window but there are also plenty of online bookings available
Duration: 50 minutes (without other visitors) maybe longer if it’s crowded!

“Stop! This is the Empire of the Dead” Entrance into the Catacombs of Paris

History of the Catacombs - it used to be a limestone mine

The way the catacombs came about is absolutely fascinating! According to my audio tour, the catacombs began its initial construction in the 1770s as a result of limited cemetery space due to the increase in population of Paris which resulted in the increase in demand for housing spaces.

To my surprise, I was completely unaware that many of the original tunnels and underground space of the catacombs were originally large limestone mines! Many of the famous Parisian buildings and monuments, including the Versailles, used limestone from where the complex tunnels of the catacombs now reside.

Restricted hallways within the Paris Catacombs

The catacombs are sectioned in a way that many of the tombs are labelled to show the cemetery the bones were moved from as well as the year it was done. This section here is from the Ossements de L’Ancien Cemetery.

The Tour - Less intimidating and creepy than I thought

The tour was not incredibly long and took a total of 50 minutes - and we definitely took our sweet time looking through all the different elements of the tour. The tour begins by going down a set of stairs for what seems like FOREVER. I would estimate it to be about 8 minutes. Once underground, the tour begins in a bright exhibition room that provides an history overview of the space before entering the tunnels.

Shortly after, the Gates of the Underground can be seen and this is where the catacombs tour truly begin!

The sections are well organized by different cemeteries. The majority of the sections are placed in large bone block formations or skull formations. It felt a bit unreal and creepy for the first 5 minutes or so, standing so close to piles of human bones. But with the accompaniment of the audio tour as well as the few people with us walking around, I quickly adapted to the atmosphere and honestly was even surprised at how comfortable and calm I felt while walking through the darkly lit tunnel of eternal rest.

I thought the audio tour was very interesting and gave different perspectives and historical references of the catacombs, from being a limestone mine to the current cemetery that it is today. However, my husband was disappointed that they didn’t include anything about the role it played during World War II, in which the soldiers used to fight off the Germans.

Barrel shaped piles of bones at Catacombs in Paris

Random Side Story - the crazy security guard at the entrance

Before I tell the story, I would just like to clarify that all the other staff at the Catacombs were super friendly and helpful :)

On with the story.

We were waiting in line to scan our tickets to enter the Catacombs. There was an American or Canadian family in front of us. The dad was a bit confused about how to scan the ticket so after a few attempts, he gave up and stepped over the gate.

Suddenly, the security guard stationed at the entrance went BALLISTIC! He started yelling (really yelling) at this room of maybe 8 people total and in English, the most bizarre things.

He began his rampage by first yelling, but still sitting on his stool, “SIR! SIR! COME OUT OF THE GATE NOW!”

The poor dad was confused and did not realize the security guard was talking to him, which frustrated the security guard even more.

“I AM TALKING TO YOU. SIR! GET OUT NOW!”

There was some confusion and chaos among all of us. And suddenly the security guard jumps out of his stool and storms toward the poor dad, still yelling.

“YOU THINK I DON’T SPEAK ENGLISH?! I SPEAK ENGLISH! SCAN YOUR TICKET NOW! STEP OUT!!! STEP OUT!!!”

It was really crazy. First of all, the security guard didn’t bother to help the poor confused man and was just yelling these absurd things on the top of his lungs. Finally, the man’s daughter grabbed her dad’s ticket and gave it to the security guard for him to scan.

Anyways, besides that random rude incident. The catacombs were a fascinating visit and definitely worth the visit! Especially when there are no lines!