City Wonders homepage
  • About Us
  • Tours in English
    • Français
    • Español
    • Italiano
    • Deutsch
  • USD ($)
    • EUR (€)
    • USD ($)
    • GBP (£)
    • AUD ($)
    • CAD ($)
  • Help
    • Call Us
    • Contact us
    • FAQs
  • Rome
  • Vatican
  • Florence
  • Venice
  • Milan
  • Paris
  • London
  • Barcelona
  • Miami
  • Cancun
  • Home
Paris Catacombs Tours

Paris Catacombs Tours

The Empire of Death

In a morbid yet glorious fashion, some 6 million Parisian’s skeletons decorate the walls of a deserted mining tunnel under the vast city. Witness the History of Paris through the centuries through the remains of its citizens.

Our Paris Catacombs Experience

Skulls in the catacombs of Paris
On Sale
Exclusive Access

Paris Catacombs Underground Tour

4.94
(530 Reviews)
From
$107.61
$96.85

More Great Experiences in Paris

Versailles

Versailles

Notre Dame

Notre Dame

Louvre Tours

Louvre Tours

Eiffel Tower

Eiffel Tower

Our.Umbraco.Vorto.Models.VortoValue

The Paris Catacombs

Hidden Under the streets of Paris lies the “Empire of Death” where over 6 million people have been laid to rest, adorning the walls of the Famous Paris Catacombs.

In the Late 10th Century Paris faced a huge problem with overcrowding of their dearly departed in the Cities mass graveyards. Kind Louis XVI attempted to solve the problem by declaring a ban on new burials within the cities graveyards. Unfortunately, after a particularly wet rainy season, the ground below the Saint-Innocents Cemetery in Paris gave away sending decomposing bodies crashing into a neighboring property. It was then the King Louis XVI declared that the bodies where to be exhumed and their skeletons placed in the potion of the 200-mile long abandoned mining tunnel below the city.

Some 2 million bodies came from the Saint-Innocents Cemetery while the rest came from a selection of other overly full graveyards around the city. Although we cannot be sure of all of those who were relocated to this massive ossuary there are a handful of big names that are recorded to have been moved there. Έlisabeth of France, the king’s younger sister was moved into the Catacombs with other victims of the Reign of Terror. Maximilien de Robespierre and Jean-Paul Marat were both given space in the Paris Catacombs.

Over the years the Catacombs have chalked up quite a few interesting stories of their own. After the Catacombs were created there was growing interest in them from the Parisian elite, and its known that at least one party took place in the ossuary and that people referred to as “Cataphiles” have hosted a few that have not been recorded. Interestingly, during WWII both the French Resistance and the Nazi’s used the tunnels of the Catacombs to create bunkers and hideouts, but because of the incredible size they never brushed shoulders.

Find Out More

Opening Hours

Customer Reviews

View Reviews

Recommended Paris Posts

View all Blog Posts

Stay Connected

Sign up for exclusive offers with the latest travel news and tips:

By clicking subscribe you agree to receive marketing communications in accordance with the terms of our Privacy Policy.

Follow Us:

  • Rome
  • Vatican
  • Florence
  • Venice
  • Milan
  • Paris
  • London
  • Barcelona
  • Miami
  • Cancun
  • Colosseum Tours
  • Pompeii Tours
  • St. Peter's Basilica Tours
  • Day Trips from Rome
  • Vatican Museums Tours
  • Louvre Tours
  • Eiffel Tower Tours
  • Day Trips from Paris
  • Versailles Tours
  • Milan Cathedral Tours
  • The Last Supper Tours & Tickets
  • Day Trips from Florence
  • Michelange's David Tours
  • The Duomo of Florence
  • Day Trips From London
  • Buckingham Palace Tours
  • The Making of Harry Potter
  • Tower of London Tours
  • Doge's Palace Tours
  • Murano & Burano Tours
  • Day Trips from Venice
  • St. Mark's Basilica Tours

Book with Confidence

  • No Transaction Fees
  • Immediate Tour Confirmation
  • Customer Care at Every Step

Our Company

  • About Us
  • Blog
  • Press Room
  • Careers

Need Help?

  • Contact us
  • FAQs
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Sitemap - English
2020 Travellers Choice Award - Tripadvisor
2020 Travellers Choice Best of the Best - Tripadvisor
ETOAMember 2023
PayPal Chase Paymentech MasterCard Visa
City Wonders Icons

  Copyright © 2023 City Wonders Limited. All Rights Reserved.