Visit Paris underground

Some people likes to know what is underground, I don't specially do. The Catacombs Paris are kind of scary for little kids. But they will enjoy a visit at the sewers of Paris.

1 place Denfert-Rochereau, 14th arrondissement. Metro: Denfert-Rochereau. Entry price is 8 Euros.

The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 17 p.m. every day except Monday. Allow one hour for the tour.

Paris Sightseeing Pass

Catacombs Paris Tours

Every year, more than 50 000 people descend the 90 steps to see what is look like 6 million skeletons!

The fees of the guided visits are added to the full price ticket.Individual visitors : 4,50 Euros + individual admission fee

Going down the Catacombs is a very special visit. Over 6 millions of skeletons, bones and cranes are stored 90 steps below ground. Don't take your 6 years old daughter to this fascinating place.

All these bones come from the Cimetiere des Innocents and other cemeteries. This Cimetiere des Innocents was located near les Halles and was over packed. At this time all the bones had been transferred to the Catacombs.

You go down with a narrow spiral stairwell of 90 steps. After a long twisting hallway you arrived to a stone plaque. It means "here is the empire of death".

The Catacombs Paris have been renovated in 2005. Still not much light you can bring a flashlight with you.

Bring a warm sweatshirt and good shoes it is particularly chilly down there around 12c (54F).

CAUTION, PARTICULAR CONDITIONS OF VISIT :

- Visits limited to 200 Visitors in the site (entries can be stopped temporarily)
- Duration of the visit: 45 minutes - length 2 km
- No toilets, no cloakroom
- 130 steps to be gone down, 83 steps to be gone up
- Temperature: 14°
- Visit not for the people suffering of cardiac or respiratory weakness and of nervous disease.
- Visit not for young children
- Children of less than 14 years must be accompanied by an adult

Restaurants near the Catacombs

Apollo: 3, place Denfert Rochereau. A very short walk 1 minute from the Catacombs Paris. Open every day noon to 3pm and 7pm to 11pm. It's one of the biggest restaurants in Paris. Lunch around 15 Euros. The food is good. One of its specialty seven-hour roasted beef.

L'Opportun: 64 bd Edgar Quinet. Closed on Sunday. Ten minutes to go to this very good restaurant. Walk northeast on Denfer-Rochereau,turn right and left at bd Raspail. Left at bd Edgar Quinet. Price around 20 Euros. Lyonnaise food, escargots and excellent meat veal or beef.

La Coupole: 102 bd Montparnasse. Open every day. Thirteen minutes from the Catacombs Paris. Walk head northeast Denfert-Rochereau, turn left and right to stay on Denfert-Rochereau. Turn left at bd Raspail, left at bd du Montparnasse. One of the favorite Parisians brasserie. Specialities of shellfish. Also steaks and foie gras.

The Sewers of Paris

Quai d'Orsay 75007 Paris. Metro: Alma Marceau

Opening hours: Sat to Wed 11am-4pm Oct 1st to Apr 30th. Open Sat to Wed 11am-5pm May 1st to Sept 30th. Closed Thursday and Friday.

The Sewers of Paris or in French les Egouts are a quite known visit in the Capital. Second largest sewers after Chicago, you can watch a movie regarding the history of the waste disposal and also a walk where you can see above you the names of the streets.

Restaurants near the Sewers

Les Ombres: 27 quai Branly. Open every day. Three minutes away from the Sewers. Head west on Quai d'Orsay. Right at place de la Resistance and continue onto Quai Branly. Full view of the Eiffel Tower that's the reason to come to this restaurant located at the top floor of the Musee du Quai Branly. Reasonable price for lunch.

Les Cocottes: 135 rue St-Dominique. Closed Sunday and Monday. Seven minutes away from the Sewers. Head west on Quai d'Orsay. Left at Place de la Resistance. Slight left at av Bosquet. Right at rue St-Dominique. New bistro, salads, soups verrines (light dishes served in jars) and cocottes (served in cast-iron pots). Main courses around 15 Euros.

Underground 2400 kilometers long are the sewers of Paris Museum les egouts de Paris

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