Catacombs of Paris

It's thought that the Catacombs hold the remains of over 6 million people buried along the 186 miles (300 km) of tunnels.

History of the Catacombs

Before becoming Catacombs, these tunnels were used as limestone quarries for a large number of monuments and buildings that have become some of the city’s top attractions. During this period the tunnels were called Les Carrières de Paris (the quarries of Paris).

In 1786, to fight the epidemics and illnesses that were devastating the city’s population, the Government decided to move the corpses and skeletons of various cemeteries to the tunnels.

Of the 186 miles (300 km) of tunnels, only a small portion is open for tourists.

Visiting the Catacombs

The visit to the Catacombs is quite a chilling experience and it's a once-in-a-lifetime experience to see the seemingly infinite amount of human bones and skulls piled on top of each other along the tunnels.

Despite the Catacombs being a top attraction in Paris, they are almost never crowded.