The Roman Catacombs hide the mysterious Christian history of Italy from the 5th century.
The Paris Catacombs were born in 1809 and were named after the Rome Catacombs, which had similar structures but unique features.
These monuments attract hundreds of tourists yearly for their secrets about European history.
But the biggest question is- which of the Catacombs will you truly enjoy visiting?
Let’s compare the atmosphere and features of these historical underground tunnels so you can select the best to visit!
In this article, we will put the two Catacombs on a battle against each other to find out which has an interesting backstory, with additional information on accessibility and prices.
Catacombs Rome vs Paris- Our Recommendation!
We highly recommend the Rome Catacombs in the battle for the best experience between the Paris and Rome Catacombs!
They are an iconic attraction that has deep historical significance and even tells you about the religious history of Rome.
The one-room Ossury of the Paris Catacombs cannot defeat the vast five chambers of the Rome Catacombs.
While the Paris Catacombs put up a worthy fight, the Rome Catacombs’ history and artistic beauty cannot be rivaled.
Read further to discover how we came to this conclusion.
Catacombs Paris vs Rome: A Quick Comparison
| Paris Catacombs | Rome Catacombs |
| Location: Paris, France. | Location: Rome, Italy. |
| Size: 20 meters deep and 1.5 km long | Size: 20 meters deep and 20 km long. |
| Constructed in the 18th century in 1809 | Built in the 5th century |
| A gruesome experience of the past | Religious and artistic experience |
| Features:OssuaryQuarry WellCitadel of Mahon exhibitCrypt of PassionTunnels | Features:Capuchin CryptDomitilla Catacombs San Callisto CatacombsSaint Sebastian Catacombs Priscilla Catacombs Sant’Agnese Catacombs |
| Ticket Price: €35 | Ticket Price: €69 |
| Buy this Ticket! |
The Experience of the Paris Catacombs vs Rome Catacombs
The Paris Catacombs provide a haunting experience into the past, as the tunnels are decorated with skulls from the remains.
You will see stacked and patterned skulls all over the area, making it a perfect background for a mysterious trip.
All the inside sites have plaques telling you the history behind the Catacombs and the stories of the famous people buried there.
Locals will never lose their way in the Paris Catacombs since all the underground tunnels are marked by the street under which they reside.
Since the Parisian Catacombs were built in 1809, you will also discover how the French Revolution changed the lives of Parisian citizens.
On the other hand, the Rome Catacombs are not as ghostly as the Paris Catacombs; instead, they are religious sites.
Pilgrims can see the burial sites of their favorite saints and discover Christian history through the symbols and other artifacts.
The Rome Catacombs offer a very artistic experience, as walls of the five open catacombs are covered with masterpiece frescos on the Old Testament.
The Catacombs in Rome have been around for much longer than the Paris Catacombs, providing centuries-old information about Europe.
When we compare the experiences of the Catacombs in Rome and Paris, we see that the Roman Catacombs have a deeper history and artistic value, making them the winner!
Ticket Prices
You must have a ticket to explore the hallways and underground tunnels of the Catacombs in Rome and Paris.
The entry Paris Catacombs Tickets with audioguide and access to all open parts of the Catacombs cost €35!
The , including a guided tour of Capuchin Crypts and Basilica of San Nicola, air-conditioned transportation, and entry to the Catacombs, cost €69!
You cannot explore all catacombs with one ticket; you must get a separate one depending on the Roman Catacombs you want to explore.
A guided tour of the and costs €14 each.
When we compare the costs of exploring the Roman and Paris Catacombs, we see that the Paris Catacombs is the winner!
The Paris Catacombs wins as it provides a much cheaper and more comprehensive experience than the total cost of adding up the different Catacombs in Rome.
Features of the Paris Catacombs
The Paris Catacombs have a unique history, which can be seen through the interiors while exploring the underground spaces.
Here are some of the features that make up the historical French Catacombs in Paris:
1. Secret Entrances to the Catacombs
The main entrance to the Paris Catacombs is at the 14th arrondissement at 1 Avenue du Colonel Henri Roy-Tanguy.
You will see an statement on the main entrance gate saying, “Stop, this is Death’s Empire,” to warn travelers of the scary interiors of the Catacomb.
But did you know that the streets of Paris are scattered with secret entrances leading to the Catacombs?
The number and location of these entrances are kept hidden for your safety.
2. The Ossuary
The Ossuary is one of the most scary parts of the Paris Catacombs, as it holds almost seven million people’s remains.
The walls are patterned with skulls and bones from these remains to make the ossuary a public attraction worth exploring!
A separate room showing all the minerals found under Paris in the Catacombs is also near the Ossuary.
Many exciting experiments were also conducted in the ossuary’s underground tunnels, which you can learn more about from your !
3. Port Mahon Quarry
You can see a masterful sculpture crafted by Francois Decur in the Paris Catacombs, a replica of the Port Mahon island town.
This artwork was built while Decur was trapped in the Catacombs by the English army between 1777 and 1782.
This quarry sculpture is now a part of the Ossuary and can be seen on the tour of the Catacombs, even though it has undergone slight damage.
4. Crypts
There are many Scellum crypts in the Catacombs, which have attracted historians from all over the world.
These crypts have unknown symbols and phrases carved on them, and their secrets have yet to be discovered.
The crypt area’s most famous and gruesome part is the Crypt of Passion, which has a barrel-like shape covered with skulls and bones as the centerpiece!
5. Tunnels
The Catacombs are made up of miles of tunnels used as a mining area to extract limestone in the past.
Very few of these passages are open to the public, while most are considered forbidden areas.
You can still peek through the tunnel entrance and shine your flashlight inside.
6. Quarry Well
At the base of one of the staircases leading down is a clear water well used by quarrymen to wash their feet in the past.
There is another well near the crypt’s barrel of Passion, in which bones were dropped from above.
Features of the Rome Catacombs
The Rome Catacombs have five open catacomb rooms that you can access, and an attached Capuchin Crypt museum.
Some unique features of the Roman Catacombs are:
1. Capuchin Crypt Museum
The famous Capuchin Crypt museum, covered with around 3,700 skulls of the Friars, is a must-see!
The crypt is below the Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini Church and has skull patterns covering most of its walls and arches.
This is done as a practice by the Capuchin Monks, teaching visitors the value of life and human mortality.
2. Domitilla Catacombs
The Domitilla Catacombs are the largest of the other five, which is also now a Basilica of Martyrs Nereo and Achilleo and is dedicated to St. Peter’s daughter.
You can also spot paintings of famous Biblical figures, including Noah’s ark, Daniel with the Lions, the Madonna, and non-biblical paintings of the Greek figure Orpheus.
This area of the Catacombs is the oldest among all and was constructed during the 2nd century.
3. San Callisto or St. Callixtus Catacombs
St. Callixtus is one of the most famous Catacombs of all, housing the remains of almost a million buried Christians.
It became the official tomb of the Church in the 3rd century and was named after Decon St. Callixtus, who took care of the Catacombs.
Pilgrims widely visit it, as it holds the tombs of Popes from the 2nd century.
4. Saint Sebastian Catacombs
Pilgrims can see the burial remains of St. Sebastian in the Saint Sebastian Catacombs, laid here in the 4th century.
It also houses three pagan mausoleums.
The walls are painted with beautiful 2nd-century fresco paintings, stucco elements, and Greek and Catholic figures.
5. Priscilla Catacombs
The Priscilla Catacombs are divided into three main areas: the arenarium, a cryptoporticus part of a Roman villa, and the Acilius Glabrio Roman family grave.
The walls of the Priscilla Catacombs are covered with paintings of Jesus as the Good Shepherd and other Christian symbols.
The Catacomb also has an altar with an apse painting of the Last Judgment from the New Testament of the Bible.
6. Sant’Agnese Catacombs
You will see the tomb of the young Sant’ Agnese in this Roman Catacomb, who was a martyr during the persecution of Decius in 250 AD.
The Catacomb is divided into three levels, with pagan burials and some helpful graffiti and funerary inscriptions on the walls.
It also has a marble slab with a painting of the martyred girl.
The Sant’Agnese Catacomb is now an underground Basilica constructed under Pope Honorius.
Rome Catacombs vs Paris Catacombs: Which has the better features?
The Rome and Paris Catacombs both have unique features that make them worth exploring.
The Roman Catacomb’s rich Christian history, which is told through stunning paintings and tombs, cannot be beaten by the Paris Catacombs.
You can also see the Capuchin Monk Museum, which is unique and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for history lovers.
The only thing you will be missing out on in the Roman Catacombs is a gruesome display of walls covered with bones.
Hence, when we compare the features of the Roman and Paris Catacombs, we see that the Roman Catacombs are the best!
Accessibility of the Catacombs
The Paris catacombs require visitors to climb 243 steps to go down and back up, which makes it hard for wheelchair users to visit.
These catacombs are also not recommended for visitors with breathing or heart problems and pregnant women.
Kids under 13 must accompany an adult when entering the Paris Catacombs.
The Roman Catacombs are also not recommended for visitors with mobility problems since the hallways and corridors are too narrow for wheelchairs.
Visitors with claustrophobia, fearing small spaces, should also avoid the Rome Catacombs.
Neither the Paris nor Rome Catacombs are accessible for visitors with mobility problems and other health issues.
Location
The Paris Catacombs are located in the 14th arrondissement of Paris and go on for 20 km.
The Catacombs have many entrances, but the main entrance is on Avenue du Colonel, near the Denfert-Rochereau metro station.
Address: 1 Av. du Colonel Henri Rol-Tanguy, 75014 Paris, France. Get Directions.
The Rome Catacombs are spread out all over the city, so the location depends on the one you plan to visit.
Catacombs of San Sebastiano Address: Via Appia Antica, 134, 00179 Roma RM, Italy. Get Directions.
Catacombs of St. Callixtus Address: Via Appia Antica, 110/126, 00179 Roma RM, Italy. Get Directions.
Catacombs of Priscilla address: Via Salaria, 430, 00199 Roma RM, Italy. Get Directions.
Catacombs of Domitilla address: Via delle Sette Chiese, 282, 00147 Roma RM, Italy. Get Directions.
Catacombs of Sant’Agnese address: Via di Sant’Agnese, 1, 00198 Roma RM, Italy. Get Directions.
The Roman and Paris Catacombs are easy to locate and have multiple public transport options to get you directly to their entrances.
Opening Hours: Rome vs Paris Catacombs
The Paris Catacombs are open to explore from Tuesday to Sunday from 9.45 am to 8.30 pm, with the final entry at 7.30 pm.
All five Roman Catacombs have different timings and closing days to remember during the week.
The Catacombs of Domitillia, Calixtus, and Priscilla are open from 9 am to 12 pm and 2 pm to 5 pm.
The Catacombs of Priscilla are closed on Mondays, the Catacombs of Domitilia are closed on Tuesdays, and the Catacombs of Calixtus are closed on Wednesdays.
The Catacombs of Saint Sebastian is open from 10 am to 5 pm on all days of the week.
The Catacombs of Sant’Agnese is open from 9 am to 12 pm at noon and in the evening time from 3 pm to 6 pm from Thursdays to Saturdays.
Sant’Agnese Catacomb is open from 3 pm to 6 pm on Sundays.
Please note: Be sure to check the official Catacomb websites to confirm the times before visiting in case of changes.
Expected Crowding & Popularity of the Catacombs
Both the Catacombs are world-famous, but they attract different levels of crowding every year.
The Paris Catacombs attract over 550,000 visitors from all over the world in a year!
The Rome Catacombs are the least crowded between September and November.
Since Europe receives a lot of tourist crowds between June and August, we don’t recommend visiting the Catacombs in these months.
The best way to beat the crowding is to book your tickets in advance and plan an early morning visit for a relaxing experience.
So, does the Paris or Rome Catacomb provide a better experience?
Selecting one place to explore among both the Catacombs depends on the kind of experience you are looking for.
Pilgrims and historians who want to discover the Catholic history of Rome and some stunning century-old wall art should visit the Roman Catacombs.
Visitors who enjoy adventure and horror and want to feel like they have entered a dangerous world of skulled walls should check out the Paris Catacombs.
Both the Catacombs provide an interesting background to discover the exciting histories of their respective countries and are a must-see!
FAQs on Catacombs Paris vs Rome
Are Paris or Rome Catacombs better?
The Rome Catacombs offer much more to see, with a separate room for all saints and stunning frescoed walls from the 2nd century.u003cbru003eu003cbru003e In comparison, only one room of the Paris Catacombs is open to the public.
Are the Catacombs in Rome worth seeing?
The Catacombs in Rome offer visitors a chance to learn about the ancient burial practices of Romans. u003cbru003eu003cbru003eVisitors can also see the burial grounds of Catholic saints and worship areas.
Are the Paris Catacombs worth seeing?
The Paris Catacombs offer a quick dive into the history of France, with its gruesome skull-covered walls and mysterious crypt area. u003cbru003eu003cbru003eThey display some of the most unique bone artwork in the world.
Are the Paris or Rome Catacombs wheelchair accessible?
The Paris and Rome Catacombs are not wheelchair accessible. They are also not recommended for visitors having health issues and for small kids.
Does the Paris or Rome Catacomb have more attractions to explore?
The Roman Catacomb has many more areas and artifacts to explore than the one room of the Paris Catacombs.
Is the Paris or Roman Catacomb cheaper to visit?
If you want a complete experience in one ticket, the Paris Catacombs tickets are much cheaper at the cost of €35!
Which is the best Roman Catacomb for a trip?
The St. Callixtus Catacombs are one of the most famous Roman Catacombs.
Is there a dress code for the Catacombs?
There is no particular dress code, but we recommend you wear comfortable and sturdy shoes, like sandals or sneakers.
Featured Image: Ncronline.org , Catacombes.paris.fr