The Catacombs of Paris by Gilles Thomas

The Catacombs of Paris by Gilles Thomas using photographs by Emmanuel Gaffard. This is one of 2 books I bought from the gift shop of the Catacombs in Paris. I visited the place and it is fascinating. I read this book and the other one of the catacombs will be next.

My suggestion is to buy the book before you visit the catacombs, to know a bit more about their history, so to enjoy it more. The catacombs have a long history, going back centuries, which is nicely explained in this book. They were a quarry, sinking of houses started to happen in the late 1800s. That, combined with a health issue due to the burials within Paris led to the creation of the catacombs.

The book covers all the important aspects, from how the place was used to the important historical events. It takes the reader on a journey through the catacombs with the beautifully made pictures showing how the catacombs look like. There are old pictures and drawings included as well, which is really nice.

I enjoyed the book and I think it is worth getting. Even if you are not visiting Paris soon, it might be worth reading about the catacombs because they are so unique and interesting on their own. Many of the things included in this book are also included in the audio guide given during the visit at the catacombs. It’s a short book, just over 100 pages, but it is detailed enough. I enjoyed it very much.