Spooky Encounter in The Catacombs of Paris
What’s your spooky hideaway on Halloween? Is it the Island of Dolls in Mexico where thousands of decaying dolls terrifies visitors? Maybe it is The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Co that inspired the cult classic horror movie, The Shining. Or perhaps you embarked along journey deep within the Catacombs of Paris. The place that inspired a host of horror movies and generational folklore. Join me on my voyage into the spooky underground domain of the dead. Certainly not for the faint of heart. Have a safe and festive All Saints Day.
The Catacombs of Paris (French: Catacombes de Paris, 
(help·info)) are underground ossuaries in Paris, France, which hold the remains of more than six million people[2] in a small part of a tunnel network built to consolidate Paris’ ancient stone quarries.
Extending south from the Barrière d’Enfer (“Gate of Hell”) former city gate, this ossuary was created as part of the effort to eliminate the city’s overflowing cemeteries. People were dug out of their graves, taken dead or even murdered.
The sign above the door is written in French. It reads, ” ARRÊTE ! C’EST ICI L’EMPIRE DE LA MORT.” That translates to, “Stop! It is here the Empire of Death.”
I opted in for the Skip-the-Line feature for this tour when I booked online in advance. By adding this feature, I experienced a hassle-free and enjoyable time during the Catacombs of Paris Tour. Otherwise, I could have been waiting on line for more than an hour or even longer.
The queue wait time for the Catacombs of Paris tour can be up to three hours if you do not book your tour in advance. I suggest that you confirm your tour ahead of time and save your freight for the creepy corridors and ossuaries instead of the lengthy queue. 🙂
The Catacombs of Paris, France. They are underground ossuaries and tourist attractions. Broad scaffolding of human skeletal remains.
The photo to the left describes instructions of the Catacombs that are also written in France. It reads, “You are invited not to touch anything and not to smoke in the ossuary.”