What Is The Skip The Line Paris Catacombs Tour?
The “City of Light” offers a wealth of riveting possibilities to visitors.
One of the underrated choices is to escape the hustle and bustle of tourist-packed streets. No, you don’t have to follow well-worn tourist paths. A parallel world engulfed in darkness and death exists quietly under the surface.
Skip the line catacombs tour is the best option to explore it.
It’s a guided and uncompromising experience. Its highlights are the sections of the catacombs that aren’t open to the general public. You immerse in the underbelly of France’s capital, a whole network of intricate tunnels.
Some corridors are lined with skulls to the ceiling, which means this isn’t for the faint of heart. So, without further ado, let’s give you a taste of what you can expect from down there.
A Brief History Lesson
The tale of the Catacombs begins back in the late 18th century.
City authorities decided to move cemeteries to an abandoned quarry beneath the surface. This move came in the wake of public health concerns. Namely, the local cemeteries were literally overflowing with corpses.
Transfer of remains and consecration of quarries officially ushered in the Catacombs system. The name given to it was “Paris Municipality Ossuary”.
But, “the Catacombs” (in reference to Roman catacombs) became a much more popular name.
The transfers would continue after the French Revolution. In a span of 12 years, numerous bodies were dumped into quarry wells and stacked in the galleries. In 1807, the catacombs were finally opened to the public.
They immediately started aroused curiosity and attracting countless visitors.
Today, 550,000 people from around the globe flock there every year. They seek to retrace the steps of kings and emperors, who visited the Catacombs in times past.
Of course, we should underline right away you want to wait for the Coronavirus pandemic to pass. For the time being, the tours are suspended. In hope of better days, let’s proceed.
The Subterranean Kingdom of Death
Catacombs skip the line tour gives you all access privileges.
You can examine sections that most visitors never get a chance to see. This is to say you have off-limits, VIP access and don’t have to wait in line for hours. And make no mistake: those lines are notoriously long.
The adventure starts at the Catacombs Main Entrance. Soon afterward, you’ll see a Catacomb guard opening the gates with a special key.
What follows is a descent into a dark underground realm with a small group (18 people maximum). The first thing you see is a haunting warning: “Stop! This is the Empire of Death”. Unless you believe skeletons can rise from the dead, you have nothing to worry about.
The tour lasts about 2 hours and takes you through several centuries of history. Echoes of some of the most turbulent events, including the French Revolution, can be witnessed there.
You can move around freely, as long as you’re careful not to wander away on your own. Also, it’s illegal to visit some of the areas, as they’re declared unsafe.
Bones in Place of Stones
It’s estimated that a total of six million people found their eternal rest in the catacombs.
Crypts harbor the bones of many famous and illustrious Parisians. Some of them, like the Maximilian Robespierre, who presided over the “Reign of Terror”, are more infamous than anything else.
But, one can stumble upon people from all walks of life there. It’s safe to say Catacombs are both a stairway to heaven and the gateway to hell.
The quarry was redecorated and rearranged before it became accessible to the public. This project took a monumental approach. So, there’s plenty of marvelous artwork and architecture to admire.
Make sure not to rush and miss some of the artistry and displays along the way.
You’ll notice façades are dotted with human skulls. The rest of the bones are hidden behind walls or arranged in bizarre patterns. Visitors also come across masonry monuments, in the form of altars, steles, and columns.
There are so many deep secrets that you might be the first to unravel some of them.
Catacombs Tour General Info
Quarry was just one part of the underground complex that stretches some 800 hectares.
The Catacombs themselves are 1,500 meters (0.93 miles) long. A vast limestone maze of centuries-old tunnels and winding corridors is 20 meters deep. That’s the equivalent of a 5-story building.
These proportions make them the largest cemetery in Paris.
Note that you encounter 243 steps— 131 on your way down and 112 when climbing up. So, people with reduced mobility should stay away from this tour. The same goes for those with cardiac or respiratory insufficiency.
Furthermore, mind there are no toilets and cloakrooms. You can’t take luggage, animals, and strollers with you. In order to ensure site preservation, the city has banned food and drinks as well.
The price starts at €80 (around $87) per person.
For that figure, you get to skip the line entrance, access to special areas, and guided tour. In our opinion, it’s more than worth it.
A personal guide (an expert historian) is one of the main selling points. He provides insights about Paris history and evokes tales of mystical folklore.
Oh, and bring a jacket with you. It’s rather chilly down there in the catacombs. The temperature is around 14 °C or 57 °F.
The Eerie Burial Ground Beckons
Skip the line catacombs tour is entertaining and educational dive into alluring past of Paris.
It’s not your typical tourist activity. You’re invited to unveil the secrets beneath the city and come face-to-face with Parisians of the bygone era. If you like macabre and mysterious things, you’re in for something truly special.
That being said, we would say the tour is worth considering regardless of your preferences. You can appreciate the fascinating history only visible in those dark corridors. Expert guides stand at your disposal and you can’t get lost either.
So, do yourself a favor and leave the crowds behind. It’s time to go beyond locked gates, to a place that is unlike anything you’ve seen before.
Check out other travel articles to get more amazing ideas. It’s never too early to start planning your next escapade!
