Paris Catacombs
 

Hi all- my husband has just thrown out the Catacombs as a site to visit during our upcoming trip to Paris. How is it and is it a long wait to get in? I know it's not on Museums pass, but just wondering if it is a long wait ('cause it's gonna be cold)!

Since you mention cold I assume you won't be there in the main tourist season. In that case your wait should not be long. Even though or visit was in August the line moves quickly enough... they let in about a dozen people at a time but as everyone keeps moving the wait isn't onerous.

If I recall correctly it took us less than an hour to go through and come out the other end. Oddly, there are no signs as to which way to go when you exit and it is a bit disorienting as you'll have been twisting and turning underground. So turn right when you exit and walk until you come to Avenue du General LeClerc... turn right again and you'll arrive back at Place Denfert Rochereau where you started.

As to 'how is it?'... well... there are more bones than most people will see in their lifetime down there. Millions. Many artfully arranged. I'm glad I went but it won't be back on my must see list for at least a couple of decades! ;^)

The catacombs have been closed because of vandalism.

http://www.parislogue.com/catacombs

That is a shame. We visited the catacombs last August and from all the signage, there appeared there were hidden cameras throughout the catacombs. There were even several stray bones placed on a ledge right before you exited, apparently put there by people who had taken them and then had a change of heart. As usual, the few ruin it for the many.

Are they still closed? I know they shut down for a few months in 2009, but I thought they reopened after that?

http://www.catacombes-de-paris.fr/english.htm seems to suggest they are up and running again.

glenmd - I saw that site but the information on it is from 2009. If michele_d visited in August 2010 then I guess they are open.

The wait for the catacombs in the winter is not long at all.

Yes, the catacombs are open again.

In fact they reopened a year ago -- December 2009.

We were there in early October and had the place practically to ourselves. There was no wait to get in.

Ee were at the cstacombs last week (our second visit; the first was about five years ago) and there were maybe a dozen other visitors before and after the three of us.

At the entrance, there is a long descent via spiral staircase, then a long walk before reaching the bones area.

A guidebook had suggested that a flashlight would be helpful, so we took along the little light that we take on trips. It was a help in seeing rough spots and wet places in the path.

The bones are amazing, and were worth the effort to see them. Our teenage granddaughter was with us, and was very impressed!

At the exit (another long climb by spiral stairs), there is a nice little gift shop across the street, where we rested with drinks and bought some little stuff.

There is a sign outside the shop which points to the metro stop.

I think that knowing the history of the catacombs is necessary to appreciating the site.

Byrd

They offer a .pdf brochure with some history and a 'floor plan' of sorts:

http://www.paris.fr/portail/viewmult...ument-id=80812
- - click Open to open the file

http://www.catacombes-de-paris.fr/english.htm

http://www.carrieres.explographies.com/indexus.htm

In June 2010 we waited in line for about an hour. It ended up that my DD and DH went down without me. I was at the bottom of the stairs and realized that my claustrophobia was going to make it impossible. Up I went again and got a refund! I went shopping and met them at the other end. They both enjoyed it.

we do know the history and are not claustrophobic at all...will be there over Christmas so were hoping to not wait too long, as I suspect it will be cold. I remember kerouac posting when they re-opened after the vandalism. thanks for your replies!

Fodors needs to speed up their response time. I put in a response yesterday that the catacombs were closed and my comment does not appear on today's search. I am in Paris now and it would be most helpful to see more information closer to real time that one month ago. The catacombs have been closed "until further notice". Are the catacombs open today? Will they be open tomorrow?

Thanks

biomechanix,

I don't understand your comment about Fodor's response time. You're posting on a 2-year-old thread.

All it takes to get current information is to go to the Catacombes official website: http://www.catacombes.paris.fr/

Closed until further notice.