Can you just go into the catacombs?

Can you just go into the catacombs? Access to the catacombs is strictly limited, and only a relatively few visitors at a time are allowed on any given day at any given hour. The wait time, then, can be long. That's why we strongly recommend you sign up for a catacombs small-group guided walking tour that gets you underground ahead of the line.

Can you touch the catacombs?

The unique and fragile ossuary presented at the Paris Catacombs must not be touched. Group leaders must make their groups aware of the essential rules for preserving the works and be considerate towards other visitors. It is fordbidden to smoke, eat or drink inside the Paris Catacombs.

Are the catacombs worth visiting?

These catacombs have a fascinating history, originally built as limestone quarries in the late 18th century, they later became the final resting place for millions of Parisians' skeletal remains. It's a unique blend of history and a bit of the eerie, which makes it a must-visit attraction in Paris.

How are there so many bodies in the catacombs?

It may have been one of the largest and most prosperous cities in the Western World but its own rapid growth was causing the city's cemeteries to literally overflow with the bodies of the dead.

Do the catacombs smell?

However, the strong smell of the Paris catacombs is apparently what all the initial signs were warning sensitive visitors about. At best, it could be likened to the dusty, incense-infused scent of old stone churches, but with an underlying malaise that can only be attributed to the contents of multiple cemeteries.

Why did we stop using catacombs?

Some areas of the tunnels even became shrines for martyrs buried there. But after Christianity was legalized in 313 AD, funerals moved above ground, and by the 5th Century, the use of catacombs as grave sites dwindled, though they were still revered as sacred sites where pilgrims would come to worship.

Do they still put bones in the catacombs?

The city stopped moving bones into the ossuaries in 1860. Today, a little more than a mile of the catacombs is open for visitors to explore. The public entrance is located in Paris' 14th arrodissement, at 1, avenue du Colonel Henri Rol-Tanguy. It takes about 45 minutes to walk through.

Is there a dress code for the catacombs?

How to dress ? You can leave your boots at home, but be sure to wear comfortable shoes! However, waiting in front of the entrance can be long, even in winter, so don't forget to dress warmly.

Are there toilets in the catacombs?

On exiting the Catacombs you will be searched to make sure you have brought no bones with you. There are no toilets or facilities during the tour and note you may have been queueing for some time before entry. There are guided tours you can purchase.

How long can you spend in the catacombs?

The tour of the Catacombs is deep underground. The walking route is about 2km, about 1.25 miles and the average independent visit takes around one hour. You will first descend 130 steps down to the Catacombs and then at the end it's an 83-step climb to street level.

What do I need to know before going to the catacombs?

What is the best catacomb to visit in Rome?

The Catacombs of St Callixtus – recommended for a first visit. The Catacombs of St Callixtus (Catacombe di San Callisto) are the largest in Rome and the most visited. What is this? The are along Via Appia, in an area with several other significant attractions such as the Quo Vadis Church and ancient Roman Tombs.

Can you sleep in the catacombs?

While tours of the catacombs are offered occasionally, sleeping there is generally impossible.

Are the skulls in the catacombs real?

Despite the ritual with which they were transferred, the bones had simply been dumped into the tunnels in large heaps. Slowly but surely the quarrymen lined the walls with tibias and femurs punctuated with skulls which form the basis of most of the decorations that tourists see today.