Hello,
We are a group of 7, including 4 young children. We are interested in seeing both the Musee Nacional du Moyen age Cluny and the 2-hour tour of the Catacombs in the same day. What is the best way of going about this? In relation to the Cluny, where is the entrance of the catacombs, and the exit?
Rick's book tells you exactly where the catacombs are. As soon as you pop out of the metro, its to your right straight ahead. The line will be a good hint. Even though the line stretches to the corner, I timed it, and it took 1/2 hour to get through.
The exit is literally on the other side of the block. If you exit right, go up the street and turn right... walk about 1.5 blocks, you'll end up at the catacomb entrance.
What I mean is after you tour the Catacombs where does it leave you? I know where you enter, but my understqnding is thqt you walk for q couple of hours qnd end up somewhere else. Where do you end up?
The Cluny is along Metro line 10 and connection of the RER B (Saint Michel).
It will be very easy to get to the Catacombs which is a stop on the RER B (opposite direction from the airport) at Denfert Rochereau
From the museum walk along boulevard Saint Michel to the river - easiest way to get to the RER station (otherwise it is a long walk underground from the 10 to the RER)
Time between the stations should take you no more than 10 minutes.
Keep in mind with the young children at the catacombs - there are stairs down and out (around 83 I believe) - no elevator - minimal light and is an underground cemetery. The catacomb walk is 2.5 kilometers.
Thank you Jona for this information. It is very helpful. But there is still one thing I do not understand:
After walking the Catacombs, where does one exit? Where are you when you exit? Does it do a big circle and you exit where you started or are you traveling in a direction away from the entrance and exit somewhere entirely different?
Thanks.
it takes you entirely different than the entrance. You'll exit in a residential area, and you'll be a bit disoriented.
If you turn right, and then right at the main street, you'll end back at the original destination.
Thanks Jona for the stop. I was trying to remember it.
The Catacombs do not take a couple of hours. 2.5 kilometers is only 1.5 miles, and most people , even children can walk a mile and half in less then one hour.
If children are very young ,, under 6 or 7,, I wouldn't bother taking them. It is uneven surfaces, and dimly lit.. I can't imagine most kids under 10 actually liking it that much.
A suggestion to Kent's point would be to substitute the Musee de Sculpture en Plein Air (outside sculpture museum) that follows the Seine in the 5th - not far from the Cluny. Also line 10 - Jussieu along Quai St. Bernard. There is also a zoo here and a natural history museum all within the Jardin des Plantes.
In response to kent, what child wouldn't like to see what is in the cluny or the catacombs. Bones, armour roman ruins sounds wonderful. Travellling with children is about introducing them to new sights and experiences. I spent most of my youth either camping in the great outdoors or at the theatre and museums. It was great and it is something that our whole family, my 8 year old son included, enjoys to this day. take your keds Alexina and enjoy. I did read one post with a good suggestion. Take a small flashlight with your down to the catacombs so you can see better and it also helps illuminate the bones. Travelling with children is fun it gives you a whole new perspective on what you see.
enjoy your trip
Kelly, lots of kids would find the Cluny a bit boring, aren't you glad yours didn't,, I mean when you took him there.
Different kids like different things. The Cluny is not a museum my son enjoyed much at all, but he enjoyed the Lourve enought that HE suggested a second visit on our trip.
Frankly some kids are just not into musuems, and guess what , thats ok,, a city is not just a museum, its the people, the food, the streets, the sites that do not involve " old stuff and naked men ( son did not enjoy sculptures ) LOL
Yes, both boys enjoyed the Catacombs very much.. ( I on the other hand felt claustrophobic so we marched through and were out of there in less then an hour easy, )
Museum both boys loved was the Invalids,,they liked the old weapons etc.
we went to the catacombs in august of 2006. my son then 10 years old actually like it, I think you should be done in 1.5hour max.
We just toured the Catacombes in late May and there were no lines. Be sure to check the days and hours that it is open. The lighting was decent and we did not take a flashlight. You will walk a long way before you see the bones but you will not be disappointed. One hour should be plenty of time. Yes, there are lots of spiral steps to get down there--getting back up was a bit of work. The children will be impressed!
Oh and if you're a student or teacher, bring your card. There's a discount.
7,50 regular admission
5,50 with teacher discount
3,50 with student ID.
