After Hours Catacombs And Bone Chapel Small Group Tour
Paris is one of the most beautiful cities on earth, known for its romantic atmosphere, stunning architecture, and world-famous landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and Notre Dame Cathedral. But beneath the shining streets and bustling avenues of the French capital lies a dark and mysterious underworld that few visitors ever get to explore.
The Catacombs of Paris are one of the city's most fascinating and unsettling attractions. These ancient tunnels and chambers were originally quarries, used for centuries to mine the limestone that was used to build the city's famous buildings. But in the 18th century, as Paris grew more crowded and the city's cemeteries became overcrowded and unsanitary, the government decided to use the abandoned quarries as a place to store the bones of millions of dead Parisians.
The History of the Catacombs
The Catacombs of Paris contain the remains of over six million people, including some of the city's most famous historical figures. The catacombs are open to visitors, but only a small portion of the vast network of tunnels and chambers is accessible.
The tour begins with a descent of a narrow spiral staircase, deep beneath the city streets. Visitors are led through a series of dimly lit tunnels and passages, where they can see the remains of thousands of Parisians arranged in macabre patterns. The bones are stacked and arranged into intricate designs, sometimes forming walls or pillars that seem to loom over the visitors. The air is cool and damp, and the silence is broken only by the occasional hushed whisper of a guide or the sound of dripping water.
The Bone Chapel
After the catacombs, the tour takes visitors to the nearby bone chapel, where they can see yet another example of Paris's unique approach to death and mortality. The chapel, officially known as the Chapel of Our Lady of the Condemned, is decorated with the bones of over 40,000 dead Parisians, arranged in intricate and often macabre designs. The chapel was originally built in the 16th century as a place for the condemned to pray before their executions, but it was later used as a mass grave during the French Revolution. Today, it is a chilling testament to the city's complex and often disturbing relationship with death.
What to Know Before You Go
If you're planning to visit the Catacombs of Paris and the bone chapel, there are a few things you should know before you go. First, tickets must be purchased in advance, and the tours are limited to small groups of no more than a dozen people. The tour is not recommended for children under 10 years old or for anyone with claustrophobia, as the tunnels can be narrow, dark, and sometimes cramped.
Additionally, visitors should dress warmly and wear comfortable shoes, as the temperature in the tunnels is consistently cool and the floors can be slippery. Photography is allowed, but flash photography is strictly prohibited. Visitors should also be prepared for a unique and sometimes unsettling experience, as the catacombs and bone chapel are not for the faint of heart.
Conclusion
The Catacombs of Paris and the bone chapel are a fascinating and chilling reminder of a different era in the city's long history. For those brave enough to venture into the depths beneath Paris's streets, the tour offers a unique and unforgettable experience that is sure to stay with them for years to come.