Are the stairs going up out of the Catacombs wide enough so a normal-sized person can flatten against one side and catch their breath while allowing others to pass?
Posted by
Pacific Northwest
2679 posts
I was there last year and I wanted to chime in to say that I don’t feel like there is room to pass - on either the descent or the walk up. The pictures linked above give a good idea of the stairwell. It’s very steep and very tight in there.
Going down was actually harder - and longer - than going up. 130 steps vs. 85 or so but on the way down I didn’t really know how far down we were going and on the way back up I had a better feel for the place.
For the way down, I hung to the back of our entrance group and tried to be last on the stairs so I could take my time due to a mobility issue. On the way up, the group had spread out over the vast area of the catacombs so there weren’t that many people exiting with us. I took it slowly but I did keep going. I did not feel there was room to safely pass on those stairs.
Posted by
Bellingham, WA
179 posts
I am 5'2" and 200 lbs. I was in the catacombs on monday. I am embarrased to say that I was overcome by claustriphobia and turned around while I was in a tunnel. I was able to go back past the people coming in. On the stairs I was able to squeeze to one side and let people past. People were polite and accomidating, so it was no problem. Embarrasing but not difficult.
Posted by
California
1625 posts
When I was going up , what seemed endless circling stairs on my way out of the catacombs, all I could think of was that I had to keep lifting each leg and keep going despite my legs feeling like jello and my labored breathing because the group of people behind me could not pass and it was up to me to ensure we kept moving. I even rushed to start the stairs and told my husband I needed a good head start before the next tour group started their ascent...at one point my husband, who was behind me asked "Can you let some people pass"...I said "honey, there is a wall on each side of my hips, absolutely not!". Once we were out I tried to look cool by pretending to take pictures, when actually my legs felt like they would give out and I needed to catch my breath...as the group of teens behind me bounded out full of energy and just kept walking down the street. With that being said I am a plus size girl and 51 at the time, but not 100% out of shape and obviously fit enough to make the whole climb without stopping.