The Paris Catacombs

 One of the coolest things we did in Paris was going through the catacombs.  We actually didn't even know they were there, and one day as we were walking down a street close to our apartment we came across a huge line of people lined up at this little tiny green building at the edge of a small park.  It was across the street from a metro station so we actually thought at first they were all in line to get tickets or something, but it seemed odd as the line literally wrapped around the corner. As we were walking home later we read the sign, and saw that it was the entrance to the Paris Catacombs!  Just as an FYI if you find yourself in Paris, the entrance is across the street from the Denfert-Rochereau Metro station on Av. du General Leclerc.  We decided to go through them and they were eerie, kinda creepy, and totally awesome.

 You start by going down a seemingly endless spiral staircase (woo hoo I love spiral staircases!).

 Then there's some information boards for the curious readers out there.

And then you start through the tunnels.  Even by this point it was pretty cool.  There are signs imprinted on some of the walls which tell you (if you can read French) about what streets are above you, and were used by the workers when the tunnels were quarries way back in the day.  In the late 1700s they were turned into catacombs, when remains from cemeteries around Paris were moved there.





























Once you go through this first part you suddenly arrive in the tunnels that have all the bones.  There are signs posted around the entrance warning of prosecution for disturbing or taking the remains, and it kind of adds to the creepiness of the atmosphere down there.

When you first see the bones it's kind of shocking really, the tunnel walls are completely lined with neatly stacked bones with rows of skulls through the middle and on top.

 They go on and on and some places have more elaborate altars featuring designs made with the skulls.

 I think I remember reading that the catacombs hold the remains of about 6 million Parisians, which seems about accurate, just look at how many bones there are!

 There were some rooms that had it lit so you could see behind the neatly stacked bones in front to see the piles of bones behind, and you could see a pelvis or two here and there.

The picture on the right is of a giant round bone stack (sculpture?) in the middle of one of the rooms

 Down in the tunnels it was kinda wet like caves, and there was water dripping from some of the ceilings making little stalactites everywhere.  The pictures are bad because of the darkness but the reflection of the water on the floors and the atmosphere of the cave like catacombs was very cool.  Here's a little video so you can get a better idea.  (I'm talking quiet because it's quiet and creepy down there and there were people just around the corner lol)

The green picture is looking up by a column, looking at the ceiling of one of the rooms you walk through as you leave.  There were actually some pretty disturbing posters about instances when the tunnels collapsed and showed the buildings that were on top of them all caved in.  I'm glad they show you those pictures as you are leaving!


 Once you reach the end you have to climb back up about 1000 stairs (but hey it's okay with me because they were in a spiral!)  At one point I stopped to snap a pic and Erin kept going.  I thought she was right ahead of me still and I got a little freaked out when I didn't see her and started sprinting up the stairs.  I seriously think I did about 5 circles up those stairs before I caught up to her.  There were a lot of stairs.

Totally worth the climb though!  My only tip would be if you go bring your own flashlight so you can get some better pics and see back into some of the creepy cells and crevices!