The major thing we wanted to do in Paris was visit the catacombs, an underground ossuary containing the bones of more than six million people. The catacombs are part of Paris' abandoned mine and quarry network, and bones were moved to the catacombs because the cemeteries were running out of space. The first bones were transferred from the Cimetière des Saints-Innocents after the cemetery was closed in 1780 due to overuse. The catacombs are an extremely popular attraction, and purchasing tickets in advance is highly recommended as a limited number of people are admitted each hour, and with good reason -- the experience would be extremely unpleasant if overly crowded. However, you can only purchase tickets one week in advance, and the catacombs are not open on Mondays. The two full days we were in Paris were Sunday and Monday, so I had to ensure that we were able to get tickets for Sunday April 7. Fortunately I was successful! Tickets were €29 each, although per the website, they are now €31. Unfortunately, the catacombs are not accessible for people in wheelchairs or who have mobility issues -- the 1.5km long route has 243 stairs -- 131 to descend and 112 to ascend. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit, and if you want to see bones and skulls (no full skeletons, though), the Paris catacombs won't disappoint! [Yelp collections: Europe 2024; Paris, France; Beware of stairs!] read more

Yes. Come do the touristy things like shopping, eating, and sightseeing. But also consider this place with a spin to the sightseeing portion with a historical twist. The admissions price you pay is worth it. You just don't see this type of local flair anywhere else. Soak in the history about Paris and also its darker side. Your perspective about things will change, for most people anyway. The takeaway the hubs took from this experience is that nothing really matters at the end. It's a real eye opening experience TBH. As you wander the dark corridors, you will see piles of real human bones piled in neat stacks. It was saddening to realize that these were once human beings. Now they are part of a collection of unknown souls. It was just a down to earth experience. The audio tour will allow you to wander at your pleasure so there's no real rush or live tour. Book early because spots are limited! read more

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I lived in Paris for 5 years , with my first wife....a Parisian, and never visited the catacombs It took my Daughter to get me out here and I am glad she did. Amazing and unique place to visit with loads of history. It is a bit claustrophobic with the tunnels and if you are 6 feet or taller it is a challenge.... But worth it Vidit read more

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Absolutely one of the best experiences ever. It is a must to get the Audio Guide Tour - so informative on th History of Paris and The Catacombes. We unfortunately had 105 degree weather in Paris and literally this tour was a "cool" experience for the history and the temperature - literally. Also the little gift shop after is a must - I smile every morning using my spoon and have a pair of gloves that I will be wearing as well. This and Jim Morrison's Grave was my two favorite things. read more

Fantastic experience that I would recommend for everyone who enjoys an historic cryptic adventure. The event began exactly at our reserved time and people trying to get in earlier were refused entry. After a quick weapons check, we proceeded down several flights of stairs toward the depths of the catacombs. The catacombs tunnels were snug, dimly lit, cold and damp some areas dripping with water forming puddles as you walk through. The second half of the tunnels had thousands of skeletal body parts stacked tightly forming the walls of the catacombs. An audio tour guide in your language is provided on your cell phone as you travel through the catacombs. Loved this attraction. read more

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Again, how can you not give this place a 5 star review unless you had a personal bad experience. The catacombs are a treasured history and the tour is great. The hallways are kept clear and the bones stacked are insane. It was crazy to think that's how people lived and died back in the day. It was a great experience and I don't know if I would want to do it again but great overall. read more

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This is a quick hour self guided audio tour. Well done. Would warn anyone with walking or climbing issues. Steep spiral steps going in and more importantly coming out. read more

The catacombs were on our list for our first visit to paris and we were lucky enough to get tickets. We arrived and were able to get right in. Then started the descent! lots of walking down and down. It is certainly a bit chilly down there. A very cool experience to see. It is truly incredible how many remains are down there and how vast it is. Hard to put into words until you experience it and certainly an important part of history. We walked through it which took about an hour or so, and then started climbing up the very very many stairs. Please be aware that there are a ton of stairs so if you have mobility issues this will pose a challenge. I have now seen and experienced it and feel like that is enough, but recommend others see it if they have not. I do wish we had done a tour which probably would have been more informative and interesting. read more

Tried to go here back in 2011 but I learned my lesson and purchased tickets in advance. Tickets are available 7 days out due to fraud and scammers. I was nervous when I purchased my tickets from an external vendor especially since there is a heavy surcharge. After a little troubleshooting, our tickets works and we got in. We had an audio device to translate and guide us through our tour. Interesting to learn about the infrastructure, 300+ tunnels and multiple graves. Definitely glad we got to see them to appreciate the work the French did and honor the individuals that are buried there. read more

A fun event for everyone. I have done two different routes in 10 years. It's been the same now for the last two years (that I know of). Without the audio guide you can get through it in about 40 minutes. With the audio guide is about an hour. I am a fan of the macabre, so if you feel the same way, definitely come take a look, but don't touch! read more

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I have been to Paris several times and never had a chance to experience this! It is worth a visit for the history and incredibly unique visuals. Although it's a far walk from the tourist part of Paris, it was safe and easy to navigate. The Crowds: It was nowhere near as crowded as I anticipated, even though the tickets were sold out for the night. The people were spaced out (they only sell a certain number of tickets every 15 mins) so you don't feel too overwhelmed while inside. I did not have a tour guide, but I did use the complementary audio tour which was good, but I definitely wish I would have signed up for an actual tour because there were a lot of interesting things I'm sure I missed. In advance: Be sure to set an alarm and book your tickets in advance, I think they open seven days before the date you want to go. When I was waiting in line with my ticket, I heard at least 10 people come up who were disappointed they couldn't just get a ticket the day of. read more

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There are few exhibits on the planet that will remind you of your mortality more incessantly and poignantly than Les Catacombes de Paris. It's a one-way walk (like life and death, I realize now), and will require some agility, especially for taller folks (above 5' 9", that is 175 cm). We all end up as corpses, thinning out to skeletons, like these permanent Parisians, so the reminder to me was to make the most of the time that I do have before death catches me and makes me as inert as one of these chaps. It sounds gruesome, as I tell it, but it's fascinating and a "can't miss" monument when you're in Paris. read more

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This was the coolest tour! We arrived about 30 minutes early for our reservation and were able to go in right away. It was a super hot summer day, and it was refreshing to be underground. Jackets were advised, but we didn't need them. The audio tour is free, so you really get to understand the history and what you're seeing. It was a really impactful experience. Highly recommend. read more

really interesting place. it's so crazy to be here and know that everything is real ahhhhh. it was an audio guide tour and it was very informative! i learned a lot about the catacombs and its history. definitely recommend if you are visiting paris!! read more

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Great experience deep under the streets of Paris. We had online tickets and there was not really any waiting at the door. Inside was dark and wet, ladies DO NOT wear heels. The skull heads were freaky but not too scary. Some areas a flashlight would be handy and the walk down the staircase was exhausting but worth every step. read more

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During my first visit to Paris, the main attraction I wanted to experience was the Catacombs tour. Tickets are released a week before your desired date, so I highly recommend keeping an eye on their website and booking as soon as possible, as they sell out quickly. I wouldn't rely on buying tickets at the door since they rarely have any available. The tour is self-guided with an audio component. At the start, you're given headphones and a device to guide you through. The tour lasts around 45 minutes to an hour, depending on how much time you take. If you're tall, be mindful of the low ceilings--luckily, I'm short, so it wasn't an issue for me, but I saw taller people struggling a bit! You descend deep underground, which can feel a bit claustrophobic at times, so be prepared. Comfortable shoes are a must, and while you can't use flash for photos, there's enough lighting to capture the experience. Overall, I loved the tour and learned a lot about the Catacombs that I hadn't known before. I highly recommend it to anyone visiting Paris! read more

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Went back and was able to get in, be ready for a long walk down stairs followed by a long walk upstairs, besides that, what an amazing story and history to show how Paris became what we see today and the issues of the past. It's surreal to see all the people in their final resting place. I wish the living would follow the rules more with using light and touching bones, but well worth it. Wasn't able to get in, so my review is more this. If you want to go and are visiting Paris purchase tickets in advance as they sell out quickly and the same day tickets are very limited. read more

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Great place to visit if you want something to do in Paris. You need to buy a ticket ahead of time, but it's super easy on their website. Make sure you're on the actual website, and not a tourist second hand seller that up charges you. When you go in, you get an audio tour in a handheld device. You control when the next bit starts, so you can walk at any pace. It's quite informative without being dry. And it's super cool to walk through the catacombs of course! There are of course a fair amount of stairs going in and out, so make sure you have good shoes on. read more

Les Catacombes de Paris - Catacombs - Local Flavor Near Me - Paris, 75

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Make sure and reserve your dates and times in advance to insure you get a spot for this intriguing tour. The audio guides come with admission so make sure to pick one up. I learned so much history from thistour, and Paris does such a great job continuing to invest in their history and sharing it with us all! There is a climb up and down but I saw several people pull over to the side so you can take some time if needed. I had this on my list to do if I had time, but if I had known in advance how unique this experience really was it would have been at the top! read more

Les Catacombes de Paris - Local Flavor Near Me - Paris, 75

Didn't really know how would I feel after this tour...now I do. Personally, I would not do this again, but completely understand why it's such an important place. We didn't get a chance to try the catacombs tour the last time we were in Paris, so decided to see if there was available space on a Tuesday afternoon in January. The nearest subway line is 4 (which runs north-south through the heart of Paris, and the stop to take is 'Denefort-Rochereau' (which is directly across the street from the entrance) even though Google Map insists you should go past to Mouton-Duvernet. I went ahead and got my tickets on-line (29,9€ per adult), for 10 minutes after we arrived (15:15) so we knew there was no wait. You will be given a QR code on your phone, and you need to show it three times (once to get inside the building, once to get your audio equipment for self-guided tour), and once to finally scan to get you through your gate. There is a total of 16 stops where you can hear audio commentary, and it was pretty good (we got the English version). You first go down a long winding staircase (more than 130 steps), but they do a nice job of covering all holes so even for someone who has a huge problem with heights, it wasn't bad. Once you get to the bottom, you use your audio tour to guide you through. It takes about 50 minutes, and you walk more than a km, ending up SE of where you started. Everyone involved in the tour was polite and respectful, and clearly explained to us tourists what needed to be done. This included making sure our backpacks didn't inadvertently knock over anything that you were not supposed to. As for the tour itself, you have to decide for yourself. We got lucky in that it wasn't very crowded, so nobody was 'pushing' us to move forward faster than we wanted to. Just be prepared for rooms and rooms of human remains (i.e. bones) , some arranged in bizarre patterns and used in some places as walls. For me, it just didn't end....and I realized that maybe I wasn't as understanding of other cultures as I thought I was...but seeing all of these dead people in this state, it didn't seem respectful at all (even though I knew I was being judgey). It is a bit damp down there as expected, but they do a good job of maintaining air circulation so it didn't feel stuffy. But you HAVE to be breathing in dust of human remains, right? Just to get my mind off of it, I ended up counting every step as we headed up. And sure enough, it was 112, just like it says on the website. It was good to get back to the surface. read more

Les Catacombes de Paris - There are ventilation units down there - Local Flavor Near Me - Paris, 75

I can't believe it took me so long to do this! I have been fortunate to visit Paris many times in my life but when I visited in the past, I was with family who did not love to do any touristy things, or there for school. On this most recent trip, I was there for my honeymoon and it was my husbands first time and this was one of his only ask's. We LOVED it! It was so so interesting. I highly recommend getting the audio tour. You can get up very closed to the bones. When we were there they were in the process of restoring some of the walls and they left that process open to the public to see. Wear comfy shoes and warm clothes (it can be chilly), know that there will be stairs both up and down, and if you are tall (over 5'10), be prepared to hunch over at times. read more

You will either like this self guided audio tour of the dark history of Paris or not. It was an interesting and unique experience to visit the catacombs, but it isn't something I would necessarily visit again. It is a bit macabre that hits a taboo nerve. The Paris Catacombs date back to 1786 in miles of underground tunnels of former quarries,131 steps beneath the city, and hold the remains of more than 6 million Parisians. The bones were rearranged in this underground cemetary to create elaborate art and sculptures. The ossuaries include "celebrities" killed during the French Revolution and the remains transferred from the city cemetaries due to major public health issues until 1860. The visit to the ossuaries simply confirms that no matter who you are or position you may be in society, "death is the great equalizer". Buy tickets in advance online. Metro station stop is across the street from the exhibit. read more

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definitely an experience just looking at piles and piles of dead people. pretty informative audio tour as well

The Catacombs are a super unique Parisian experience that I recommend everyone take advantage of. Hidden beneath Paris are hundreds of these tunnels, with the catacombs being the most notable. You probably have to book in advance but it's very much worth it. Be warned, if you're tall (over 6ft tall) you will have to duck at points and the tunnels themselves are not very wide but it was never a real issue. read more

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This was a very educational experience for me. I have never experienced something similar during my travel yet. I went in without knowing what is the all the skulls and bones about. I learned a lot during this visit. Visitors have to order ticket online, and they offer last minute tickets. However, the ticket sold out fast. Bag search was mandatory. Visitor with backpack have to carry the backpack in front during the visit. It was an eye opening experience, and it worth the time and money I spent. read more

Les Catacombes de Paris - Local Flavor Near Me - Paris, 75

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If you have never been to the catacombes in Paris you must! This place is a large underground tunnel with many many skulls around and bones. It's a little creepy and scary but at the time when they did this, this was normal. There are supposedly over 6 million plus people here and you can see it while going into these caves and alleyways. The entrance line is quite long so I would suggest buying tickets online for your time slot. It was worth the trip and all of us had so much fun walking underground. It was a little chilly but still marvelous because the bones have stayed still for this long! You can take photos inside as well. Also, wear some nice walking shoes. read more

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My wife said this was the highlight of everything we saw in Paris, so that says something. You start by descending about 60 feet via a spiral staircase. Then you treck through a tunnel system before you hit the bones. The bones of 2 million people. It's quite an awe inspiring sight. On a hot day this must be a welcomed retreat, we were escaping rain so also a retreat. You must plan ahead. As in you need to buy your ticket at least a day or 2 early to get in. Don't be lugging in big bags. There is no coat check because where you come out will not be close to where you started. This is a must see at least once. read more

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I have been to Paris a handful of times, but never visited the Catacombs. I highly recommend a visit if you're able to walk for about an hour and don't mind stairs. Make sure to book online. Right now, due to ticket fraud concerns, they are only making tickets available about a week in advance. So, keep an eye on the website. During my visit there was a large sign outside that said they were sold out for the day, and it wasn't even peak tourist season in Paris. So, get your ticket in advance. No large bags are allowed and there isn't a place to coat check. I didn't really understand this rule until I got about halfway through the tour and security made us hold our bags and purses in front of us so we didn't accidently bump into the bones with our stuff. If you're tall, you might also find yourself needing to stoop as the ceiling heights get kind of low at various points. You'll also get an audio guide when you arrive set to your preferred language. Throughout your walk underground you'll see signs prompting you to listen to different parts of the audio guide. The stairs going up at the end of the tour can be a lot especially if you're not used to doing a lot of stairs. The good thing is there is some seating right outside so you can rest before setting off on your next thing. read more

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Sorry to read all the negative reviews about this place. I was worried I wasn't going to be able to book as when I was searching on google all the places were saying it was sold out. Went online through the direct website and was able to purchase tickets, I believe they release them a week in advance so I just set an alarm and was able to book fairly easily. Ticket is bought for a specific time slot and includes an audio tour as well. Takes about an hour or so to go through. Informative, interesting, inexpensive and not super time consuming thing to do while visiting Paris - also easily accessible by train. read more

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The catacombs was a wonderful experience, we got tickets online, best way to get them, otherwise if purchased at the door, you run the risk of not getting any cuz it's usually sold out. You start by going through a metal detector and then you are given what it looks like a phone that has pictures and audio to follow along the tour. It's a self guided tour, so you can pace yourself and listen to the audio at your own convenience, it's so easy, there's indicators on the walls with numbers to follow along dialog and you can adjust the volume as well, I love having control and I can repeat it as many times as I want if I didn't hear it the first time. The signs and most things are in French, English & Spanish, you do a good amount of walking, and lots of stairs at the beginning and end of the tour. Really enjoyed myself, recommend to anyone visiting Paris! read more

There is a very interesting story about how the decision was made to move so many bones into the old catacombs of Paris. You can see the YouTube videos and be impressed, but coming in person really is over the top. It can be overwhelming to see in person. There are a lot of stairs for this old body, but there are a bit fewer coming out than going in. It was worth the effort. If you are in Paris and this interests you, make the effort. read more

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It is a wonder in Paris. Definitely is a must see place. It is not easy to get the ticket in the same day. Usually they run out. You also don't meet special reservations ticket either. Just need to go to web site at mid night to secure the ticket and paid for that day. It really need to do at midnight for the left over ticket. Mid night secure ticket is the key. The Catacombes is required medium physical due to up and down stair plus long tunnel. The audio is optional. The tunnel is Paris limestone. It is use to build the building. The quarries then use as a tomb for the nameless residents in Paris. They estimate six millions people bone here. The bone start to store here since late 18 century. The stacking of the bone is unique. The pattern, the barrel column, the wall with skull pattern is kind of unique. read more

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Wow! Not to be missed. I've been to Paris several times and hadn't got around to seeing the catacombs. I knew this visit I had a few things on my list of to do's. I bought a same day discount ticket because my days here were pretty flexible in terms of time. I was on a solo trip and going at whatever pace I wanted to, to wherever I wanted. I arrived about 15 minutes early and waited maybe 5minutes tops to enter at 12:00p. I'll tell you, walking amongst an area of the 6 million deceased after being too scared to do a ghost tour in Edinburgh a couple nights prior really made me think my brain operates funny. Girls got some serious range going from Chanel to the Catacombs the next afternoon. I loved it though! I think this was a really unique opportunity. I've never minded graveyard visits and in a way this is similar to that if you think about it, just far more exposed if one will and no real landscaping. I am a bit disappointed that I bypassed the audio tour because now I'll need to do some more research on what exactly I was walking through. I grew impatient with a large unorganized party of 6 who were taking forever to pick up their audio devices that I just skipped picking mine up so I could get on with getting down here and seeing them, and on with my afternoon. There were plenty of kids down here, running around which seemed strange but in a way fun. Not every kid can say they've been running through the catacombs although there's a time and a place and this may not be that place. I'd say this is an ok experience for younger ones but I'm not certain I'd bring my own son if he weren't as old as he is. When I brought him a few years ago we didn't see them but if he wants to return and view them I'd totally go again. As beautiful as the city is above ground there's surely something to be discovered about its history underground. I enjoyed my visit and I'd highly recommend the same day ticket if your schedule allows. I was up at midnight and that's when I snagged it, the availability was great. read more

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One of the more unique experiences you can do in Paris. Highly recommend for anyone who's interested in the darker side of Paris. The tour is self guided, can take anywhere from 1-2 hours. They offer optional individual listening devices you can pick up in different languages that guide you through the tunnels. We went in october and it was a bit chilly down there compared to the above ground so bringing a jacket was handy. Keep in mind its not really handicap friendly or to people who have a hard time going up a couple flight of stairs. However my parents in their late 50s who are not too physically active were able to complete it. Probably would not also recommend to people who are claustrophobic. Also be sure to reserve a spot ahead of time! read more

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An amazing time! I definitely recommend the self guided audio tour. The only thing you have to watch out for is the stairs. So many windy stairs it is disorienting. Definitely check out the gift shop area too, lots of cool stuff. The area itself is very historical and interesting. I'd recommend it if you are into dark tourism. read more

Les Catacombes de Paris - Local Flavor Near Me - Paris, 75

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Really fun & affordable excursion to do while in Paris. The catacombs have a really interesting history & the energy felt completely fine. To get down to the catacombs you go down a really long flight of stairs so beware for anyone who struggles with stairs. They have a restroom on site at the beginning of the tour. Overall a really cool experience I would recommend to my friends & family. read more

Les Catacombes de Paris - Local Flavor Near Me - Paris, 75

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What an eerie experience but finally checked it off my bucket list! The Catacombs takes you through the history of Paris and how the tunnels came to be. Seeing all the bones arranged so precisely makes it almost seem fake. It's highly recommended to purchase your tickets online but there are two options. If you buy the day of, they're almost half off but you have to be flexible in case your preferred time slot is completely sold out. And even with a reserved time slot, be prepared to wait to get in since they limit the amount of people inside. There's lot of stairs going in and out so wear comfortable shoes. The temperature also drops so bring some layers just in case. The whole thing took us about an hour but it would've been longer had we rented audioguides. The next time I visit, I'd love to go through a tour guide so they could take us to places that aren't open to the public. read more

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From the time I was in Elementary school and read about the catacombs,I wanted to go. As with the rest of my Paris trip, I did very little historical research to learn about the catacombs before my visit. I left the hotel right after breakfast for my 30-minute walk because id heard the line to get in can be long. By the time I got there (you cant walk through Paris without stopping a dozen times), the wait was about one hour. I settled in for some great people-watching. Like any other historic area, you can gaze at the landscape and architecture for a long time without getting bored. So, the time passed quickly and we were in! The catacombs were created out of abandoned limestone mines quarried for the stone that built Paris. They made the mistake of building cemeteries in the city center and eventually ran out of room for buriel. Urgent need for a place to transfer the dead was satisfied by dumping thousands of bodies in these abandoned mines. There are an estimated 6 million remains here. Although you can see only a small portion. In the 1800s someone decided to stack the bones in designs conducive to visitor's entertainment. As a result today you are able to walk through damp dark limestone tunnels full of bones placed in interesting designs. Its really magnificent and a must-see someday when it reopens after the pandemic. read more

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Oddly enough, one of the creepiest, but most interesting sites in Paris! I've been several times and enjoy it each time! The last time I had visited, the entrance was located in more downtown Paris, but apparently, they changed it years back. Semi decent line, but was able to get in within 30-45 minutes, so no complaints there, but keep in mind it was the wintertime, so I assume during the warmer parts of the year it is much busier! Price point is semi expensive, but honestly, it's well worth it if you want to learn some of the grim history of Paris! I will forewarn that if you are over six feet tall, you may be ducking quite a bit as the caverns/tunnels are not very height friendly. Being 5'11, I did not have too many issues, but had to duck a few times to avoid hitting my head. It may also not be for those who are claustrophobic or turned off by human remains in terms of bones. All and all, one of my favorite sites to visit when in Paris, not for all though and definitely not for those who are not disturbed by human remains (Trying to be PG about it). read more

Long trip down a spiral staircase - overwhelming vast amount of bones - the sheer volume is humbling . Well worth a visit and you can see everything in a hour or so read more