Catacombs of Paris, France, Underground ossuary museum in 14th arrondissement, France
The passageways sit 20 meters below street level and contain chambers where bones and skulls line the stone walls. Accessible tunnels stretch approximately 1.6 kilometers through former limestone quarries. Visitors walk through narrow corridors with low ceilings where remains form geometric patterns. Different sections display varying arrangement styles from different transfer periods.
Overcrowded cemeteries caused public health problems in the late eighteenth century, prompting authorities to relocate remains to abandoned quarries. The transfer began in 1786 under supervision of Charles-Axel Guillaumot and continued until 1814. Bones from Cimetière des Innocents and other burial grounds were transported in nighttime processions. The site opened to visitors in 1809, later becoming one of Europe's first underground tourist destinations.
The site reflects eighteenth-century pragmatic responses to public health crises and urban space limitations. Wall inscriptions explore themes of mortality and equality in death. Artists and writers have drawn inspiration from the repository for works examining human transience. The ossuary became a symbol of how Paris relates to its past, with millions of anonymous remains resting together beneath modern streets.
Temperature stays at 57 degrees Fahrenheit (14 degrees Celsius) year-round, requiring warm clothing and appropriate footwear for 131 spiral steps. Access is through Place Denfert-Rochereau using metro lines 4 and 6. Tickets must be purchased in advance online due to limited daily visitor capacity. The tour takes approximately 45 minutes with no restrooms or facilities inside.
Some bone arrangements show decorative elements like heart shapes and crosses created by workers during the original transfer. The tunnels are part of an extensive network of over 200 miles (320 kilometers) of abandoned quarries beneath the city. A forbidden section called the Plage contains unorganized bones that were meant to be moved to larger chambers in future years but remained incomplete.
Location: 14th arrondissement of Paris
Inception: 1787
Official opening: 1809
Accessibility: Wheelchair inaccessible
Address: Place Denfert-Rochereau 75014
Opening Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 10:00-20:30
Phone: +33143224763
Website: https://catacombes.paris.fr
GPS coordinates: 48.83374,2.33230
Latest update: November 27, 2025 19:22
Underground locations provide insights into geological processes and human history. Natural caves display limestone formations, stalactites, and subterranean rivers formed over thousands of years. Artificial sites include Roman catacombs, medieval cellars, and mining tunnels that document economic and social developments. This collection features prehistoric burial chambers with wall paintings, extensive cave systems with lakes and passages, and historical mines for salt, copper, or coal. Visitors can explore archaeological findings, mineral formations, and technical installations from earlier periods. Temperatures remain constant throughout the year, and many sites offer guided tours through their underground chambers.
Paris rewards visitors who venture beyond the Eiffel Tower and Notre-Dame. The Musée d'Orsay houses one of the world's finest Impressionist collections, while the Centre Pompidou showcases contemporary art in its distinctive inside-out building. Below ground, the Catacombs wind through tunnels lined with the remains of six million Parisians. Sainte-Chapelle preserves 15 towering windows of 13th-century stained glass that fill the Gothic chapel with colored light. Markets like Marché d'Aligre bring together fresh produce, vintage furniture, and antiques under one roof. The city's neighborhoods and waterways offer equally rewarding discoveries. Le Marais combines medieval architecture with boutiques, galleries, and restaurants in its narrow streets. The Coulée Verte René-Dumont transforms an abandoned railway viaduct into an elevated garden path. Along the Canal Saint-Martin, tree-lined banks invite afternoon walks and waterside gatherings. Père Lachaise Cemetery serves as both a park and the burial ground for writers, artists, and musicians. The Musée Rodin displays sculptures in an 18th-century mansion surrounded by gardens, while the Musée Jacquemart-André presents European masterworks in an elegant private residence. Rue Crémieux's pastel-painted facades create one of the city's most photographed corners.
European crypts and catacombs form a network of underground burial chambers beneath urban streets. These spaces house tombs, skeletal remains, and religious monuments from different historical periods. The chambers contain frescoes, mosaics, stone carvings and architectural elements that combine Roman, Egyptian and Christian designs. The structures reveal burial customs and religious practices from the 1st through 19th centuries.
This collection presents locations around the world associated with ghost stories and unexplained events. From historic fortresses and former prisons to abandoned hospitals and old cemeteries, these sites have developed their own legends. Visitors can explore the Tower of London in England, where reports of ghostly sightings have been documented for centuries, or tour the Catacombs of Paris, an underground network holding the remains of millions. In Asia, Aokigahara Forest at the base of Mount Fuji draws visitors interested in its dense vegetation and troubling history, while Bhangarh Fort in Rajasthan stands as one of India's most notorious locations. The collection also features places like Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia, a former prison with a dark past, Waverly Hills Hospital in Kentucky, which once treated tuberculosis patients, and Sleepy Hollow in New York, made famous by Washington Irving's tale. In Europe, Dragsholm Castle in Denmark, Leap Castle in Ireland, and Château de Châteaubriant in France offer insights into medieval history and the stories that have grown around them. Each location combines architectural or natural features with the narratives that have developed over time.
Halloween becomes an annual major event across France. Theme parks like Disneyland Paris, Parc Astérix, and Futuroscope create special environments with seasonal decorations, themed shows, and attractions suitable for all ages. Families can enjoy special menus in restaurants and meet costumed characters that animate the walkways. Cultural heritage sites also participate by organizing night visits. The Paris Catacombs reveal their underground history through guided tours after dark. The Château de Combourg welcomes visitors to its medieval halls with historical stories, while the Citadel of Bitche transforms its military galleries into theatrical settings. Museums also join the festivities: the Rodin Museum highlights its Gates of Hell with sound and visual effects. Natural sites like the Balme Caves host thematic exhibitions, and even the Thoiry Zoo invites visitors to observe animals during specially arranged evening events.
Paris is home to numerous fine dining establishments that range from nouvelle cuisine to classical French cooking. Many of these venues have earned Michelin stars and are located in historic buildings, luxury hotels, or distinctive locations such as the Eiffel Tower. The chefs work with regional products and apply traditional French culinary techniques. The restaurants are distributed across various arrondissements of the city, from the Marais district to the elegant streets along the Right Bank. The menus combine seasonal ingredients with technical skill, presenting both French culinary heritage and international influences. These dining establishments offer formal dining rooms, attentive service, and carefully curated wine pairings.
Paris has dozens of establishments situated at heights, offering different views of the city from their terraces and glassed-in spaces. From Perchoir Marais on the seventh floor with its 360-degree view of Notre-Dame and the Centre Pompidou, to Georges restaurant located at the top of the Centre Pompidou, these venues use their positions to show the capital from new perspectives. The Terrass Hotel in Montmartre lets visitors observe the Eiffel Tower from higher ground, while Les Ombres at the Musée du Quai Branly is only 100 meters from the Iron Lady. These locations are spread across different districts of the city and offer various options depending on the time of day. Some places like 43 Up on the Roof or La Vue at Hôtel Concorde Lafayette focus on cocktails and bar ambiance; others like L'Oiseau Blanc at Peninsula Paris or Les Ombres emphasize French cuisine. Several combine restaurant and bar functions, such as Nüba in the 13th arrondissement, which also integrates music into its offering. These heights allow rediscovering Paris while enjoying the cuisine and drinks provided by each venue.
Paris offers many options for families with children, from large amusement parks to interactive museums. Disneyland Paris in Marne-la-Vallée features two themed parks focused on Disney characters, while Parc Astérix in Plailly offers roller coasters and shows inspired by Gaulish culture. In the city, the Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie allows children to explore technology and science practically, with its planetarium and experimental zones. Families can also visit the Paris Zoological Park, which displays 180 species in habitats recreating different ecosystems, or explore the National Museum of Natural History with its fossil and mineral collections. For aquatic activities, Aquaboulevard has slides and wave pools under a roof. The Grevin Museum exhibits over 200 wax statues of famous personalities, while the Museum of Illusions engages viewers with interactive visual installations. La Villette Park combines green spaces, playgrounds, and cultural venues across 55 hectares.
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An incredible place that can feel a bit chilling at times!
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