The Traveling Vet Girl

Paris is famously known as the city of light (or love), and for good reason.  It is one of the most beautiful and romantic cities in the world.  But it also has a darker side if you know where to look.  From famous cemeteries to guillotines, Paris can suddenly seem very eerie with the right locations.  If you are visiting in the fall (or anytime, really), here is an itinerary for a spooky Paris!

Grab a coffee and croissant and start the day early at Père Lachaise cemetery, the first stop on our spooky Paris tour.  This is the largest cemetery within the city of Paris and is the final resting place for artists such as Oscar Wilde, Frederic Chopin, and Jim Morrison.

Père Lachaise was the first ever garden cemetery.  It’s winding cobblestone paths take you through landscaped plots containing graves from hundreds of years ago.

TIPS

Take the Metro Line 2 or 3 to enter the cemetery.

There are maps posted at the entrances with marks noting where famous gravesites are located. Take a picture with your phone for easy reference; it’s easy to get lost!

Hours: 8am – 6pm most days

After spending the morning at the cemetery, hop on the metro towards the Seine to marvel at one of France’s finest examples of Gothic architecture, the Notre Dame!  This medieval cathedral features gargoyles and goblins on the exterior, and is one of the most recognizable buildings in Paris.

Consider reading The Hunchback of Notre dame on your way over, to set the eerie mood for your visit.  Victor Hugo actually wrote the novel in a bid to convince the French people to not tear down the church as newer architectural styles became more popular.

Can you imagine tearing down this beauty??

TIPS

From Pere Lachaise, hop on Metro line 3 and then 4 to get to Saint Michel-Notre Dame station.

The lines to enter the church as well as the towers can be very long, so plan accordingly.

Grab some lunch at the many restaurants on the left bank of the Seine, across from the Notre Dame.

From the Notre Dame, it is a quick hop over to the next spooky Paris stop, the Place de la Concord.

This public square was the site of the infamous guillotine of the French Revolution.  King Louie XVI and Marie Antoinette were both beheaded here, among countless others.  It is also the square where Hitler’s army stopped after marching down the Champs Elysees during World War II, which is very morbid as well.

The square has many features, including an over 3000 year old Egyptian Obelisk, numerous fountains and statues, and a view of the Eiffel tower in the background.

TIPS

Take the RER C from Notre Dame to the Place de la Concorde.

Take a mid-afternoon break in the beautiful Tuileries gardens just east of the square.

Retrace your steps back towards the Notre Dame to head to the next stop on our spooky tour, the Catacombs of Paris.

The catacombs are a network of tunnels underneath Paris. They hold the remains of more than six million people. Originally used to combat the city’s overflowing cemeteries, renovations were made in certain sections to make it open for visitors.

The catacombs are easily the creepiest sight in Paris. Don’t go if you’re claustrophobic!

TIPS

The metro station Denfert-Rochereau is just steps away from the Catacombs.

The lines are VERY long here, as the site only allows 200 people at a time. I recommend going later in the evening, as there is immediately a line wrapping around the block early in the morning. Or skip the line here!

Hours: 10am – 8pm

And last but not least, what better way to end an eerie day than by admiring what the city of light is most famous for – the Eiffel Tower.

Seeing the iconic tower at night is a must! The views are spectacular at night, and hopefully bright enough that you aren’t too scared after a day touring the spooky side of Paris!