Paris Catacombs: Venture Deep Beneath the Surface

The Catacombs of Paris are known officially in French as the l'Ossuaire Municipal. This is an exciting and macabre attraction that will see you head right down underneath the surface of Paris, and few sights in the city are likely to make such an impression on you. Here's what you need to know if you want to visit after arriving on your Charles de Gaulle airport shuttle.

What Are the Catacombs of Paris?

If you decide to visit the Catacombs after you arrange your Charles de Gaulle airport shuttle, you will find yourself heading down into ossuary that is located 20 metres below the streets of Paris, south of what used to be the city gate. Over six million people are buried down here, in a cavern that makes up part of what used to be the "stone miles".

Indeed, the quarries of Paris, or 'les carrières de Paris', are much larger and this is just one section. However, the quarries as a whole are often referred to as the catacombs.Now the Catacombs are one of the City of Paris' Museums, along with another 13 museums, and it is a top attraction for anyone visiting the city.

History of the Catacombs

The stone that was extracted from the mines was used to build the Louvre and Notre-Dame Cathedral, but when the mine was not in use any more, part of it was used as the Catacombs. These opened in the 18th century, and they became popular with tourists in the 19th century. In fact, ever since 1874, the Catacombs have been open to the public.

Bodies were placed here due to the closure of graveyards, which at the time posed a health risk. Many famous people are buried here, including the writer Jean de La Fontaine, the painter Simon Vouet and the architect Claude Perrault. Many people were also buried here during the Revolution.

What You Will See on a Tour

As you trundle over the streets on your Charles de Gaulle airport shuttle transfer to Paris, consider what lies below. You may want to go on a guided tour to you will see the macabre sight of the many bones placed on display. It is a very moving experience, and you will go back on a journey through time.

There are many poems and passages carved throughout the Catacombs, and at the entrance you will see one that says 'Halt, this is the realm of Death'. It is quite a long way down – 130 steps in all – and the tour will take you along a distance of about two kilometres, taking about 45 minutes to complete.

Discover the Catacombs for Yourself

There are few attractions as interesting as the Paris Catacombs, so this is certainly one of the attractions to put on your list of things to see once you’ve settled in from your Charles de Gaulle airport shuttle into the city. Paris is not short of attractions, but if you want to do something a little bit different during your stay here, you won't regret visiting this strange site.

Lukas Johannes is a driver for Shuttle Direct. If you’re looking for a Charles de Gaulle airport shuttle to Paris, Shuttle Direct provide pre-booked shuttles to major destinations all over Europe. Wherever you travel, Shuttle Direct can make sure that you don’t miss your car on your holiday abroad.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.