Exploring the Catacombs - A Guided Tour of Paris's City of the Dead

Next up, watch my video about the most macabre things in London’s churches, and don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe.    • The Most Macabre Objects in London's Churc...  

👉🏻Join me for exclusive content ONLY on my Patreon: www.patreon.com/themuseumguide In October it’s a patron-only video about the Spookiest Objects at the British Museum!

👉🏻Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe. Leave a comment and let me know your thoughts about this bizarre and macabre place.

👉🏻As always, thanks for watching. If you enjoyed this virtual museum tour, then please consider leaving me a tip at www.paypal.me/jessicatourguide or buy me a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/JessicaG...

In this video, Jessica the Museum Guide (that’s me!) takes you on a tour of the infamous Parisian Catacombs. We’ll explore the history of these ancient mines and how they became an ossuary, visit the most famous places within the Catacombs, and talk about cataphiles, illegal exploration, and creepy concerts.

Heading to Paris? I recommend you book this VIP Access Catacombs tour so you can see all of the hidden things that aren’t open to independent visitors. https://www.getyourguide.com/paris-l1...

As always, thanks for watching. Be sure to leave your comments and questions below.

0:00 – Introduction to the tour
1:55 – The ancient history of the mines
4:41 – The markings on the walls and the Catacombs Workshop
5:30 – Entering the Empire of Death and the Sepulchral Lamp
6:18 – The relocation of the skeletons
8:56 – The Port Mahon rock carvings and the Fountain of the Samaritan Woman
10:15 – Monuments to the French Revolution
11:24 – Moliere and La Fontaine
13:10 – The gravestone of Françoise Gillain
14:05 – A concert at the Tibia Rotunda
15:02 – The “Cataphiles” and illegal exploration
16:03 – Discovering an illegal cinema in the Catacombs
17:34 – AirBnb offers a night in the Catacombs?

First, we descend 131 steps down into the ancient mine complex 20 metres (65 feet) beneath the streets. We traverse the corridors and caves while examining evidence of the miners, including signs and the old workshop.

Next, we visit some of the Catacombs' most iconic sites, including the Port Mahon carvings, the Sepulchral Lamp, and the Fountain de la Samaritaine. We examine the monuments to the French Revolution, and discuss the relocation of Moliere and La Fontaine to Pere Lachaise Cemetery.

After visiting Françoise Gillain's gravestone, we travel back in time to an 1897 concert at the Tibia Rotunda, followed by a discussion of the ever creepy 'cataphiles,' people who illegally explore the off-limits areas. Finally, we talk about the police finding an illegal cinema and restaurants in the Catacombs, and discuss the ethics of Air BnB offering a night inside as a contest prize.


Remember – if you’re planning a trip to London, you can book a tour with me. Email me at [email protected].

Make sure you subscribe to my channel and click the bell 🔔 notification so you always find out about new videos right away!

Like The Museum Guide on Facebook!
  / themuseumguide  

Want more information about visiting Museums around the world? Join our Museum Tips Facebook page for lots of great information and tips.   / 762985481524581  

Hana Elvy creates my thumbnails – you can hire her to make your YouTube thumbnails here:
https://www.peopleperhour.com/hourlie...

Camille Saint-Saëns: Danse Macabre by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License. https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Ke...