Many travelers like to visit unusual places, which have legends and mysteries behind them. If you are one of them and you will spend a few days in Paris, then do not hesitate to visit its famous catacombs, which are as curious as they are fascinating. Ready to meet them?
Paris is one of the oldest European capitals, and it is not surprising that its streets contain centuries and centuries of history.
One of the most outstanding points of the Parisian past were its quarries, huge places from which the stone was extracted to create many of the buildings in the city. However, this extensive mining activity weakened the subsoil of Paris, causing landslides and leaving several areas so fragile that it was impossible to build on them.
In 1777, the use of quarries was prohibited, but the French State was faced with a great problem, they had to decide what to do in front of the many kilometers of underground routes that had remained.
Despite this, the doubt was soon resolved, and it is that at that time epidemics were so common that several Parisian cemeteries were at the limit of their capacity. The underground streets were unoccupied, and they soon became a different kind of graveyard, known as catacombs.
In these long tunnels there are many, many bones, so many that they can form complete walls. The reason is simple, and it is that the remains of at least 6 million people were deposited here, ranging from victims of the pandemics that devastated the city to those who were killed during the French Revolution.
The catacombs filled quickly, at the beginning of the 18th century they had already closed and no longer served as a makeshift cemetery. However, far from being forgotten, they became one of the best known and most visited places in Paris.
There thieves took refuge, convicts hid and followers of the occult gathered. With the passage of time, the catacombs became a tourist attraction, and many visitors attended to be part of the little secret world that was hidden there.
Currently, the catacombs are open to any traveler who wants to see them, although they are not recommended for people who suffer from claustrophobia, anxiety or go with young children. Likewise, within the catacombs mobility is reduced, and there are no accesses equipped for people using wheelchairs or walking sticks.
But if adventure is your thing and you are not afraid to walk through the shadows of the underground Paris, do not hesitate to add the catacombs to your itinerary.
The Catacombs of Paris represent much more than a tourist site or a mysterious attraction, they are a unique symbol due to their historical and cultural relevance. They are considered a cultural heritage not only of France, but of the world.
In the 18th century the cemeteries of Paris were totally collapsed. The Catacombs were the innovative solution to an urban crisis. This new subway necropolis is a sample of the civil engineering of the time.
During World War II, it served as a hiding place for the French resistance. Writers, filmmakers and artists have used the Catacombs as a source of inspiration, such as Victor Hugo in “Les Miserables”.
The catacombs are open every day except Mondays and holidays, the tour is free, but you can only visit the areas marked as safe. It is not recommended, in any case, to go further, since it is easy to get lost.
The entrance to the catacombs has a cost, and is purchased at the ticket offices of the place. To reduce waiting time, tickets can be purchased online.
If you wish, you can also rent an audio guide, which will tell you the history and curiosities of the catacombs while you descend towards them.
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