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I see dead people – the new and improved Paris catacombs

After being closed for a three-month refit, the catacombs are now open again. 253,000 people visited this bizarre, macabre attraction last year, and this number increases every year. Read on to find out what’s new in the world of the dead…
Hotel Paris
photo (c) -karolinka-

The Paris catacombs are 20 metres underground and full (very full) of bones removed from the various insalubrious Paris cemeteries at the end of the 18th Century and mid 19th Century. The remains of an estimated 6 million people now rest there.

The recent work (at a cost of over $1M) has addressed a whole host of issues:

– Construction or reconstruction of some pillars and stone arches
– Improvement of the fire alarm and ventilation systems
– An additional emergency exit stairway to help speed up evacuation of the public if necessary
– Modernisation of the system for counting the number of visitors

– New signage in three languages
– Reconstruction of around twenty walls of bones (!)

Also, for the first time since its closure thirteen years ago, visitors will be able to see what is called the Galerie Port-Mahon (Mahón Gallery), which contains a number of sculptures made by a certain Décuré, a veteran of Louis XV’s armies. Cutting into the rock walls, he sculpted a replica of the fortress at Mahón , the capital city of Minorca where he was was imprisoned by the English. The sculpture has been fully restored and now has special lighting to display it better.
Hotel Paris
photo (c) -karolinka-

Here’s all the essential information for visiting the new, improved Paris catacombs

When: Tuesday to Sunday from 10am – 5pm (last entry at 4pm)
Where: 1 avenue du Colonel Henri Rol-Tanguy, Paris 14th arrondissement, métro Denfert-Rochereau (lines 4 & 6). Bus n°s 38, 68. Note that the exit is about 500 metres down the road at 36 rue Remy Dumoncel
Entrance fee: adult 7 euros, concessions 5.5 euros, 14-26 year olds 3.5 euros. Free for under-14s
More info: here on Wikipedia


Bigger map here

photo (c) CAT’s world