Paris "Death Tour"

I spent Memorial Day Weekend in Paris with a friend. It was a great weekend. I really enjoy Paris... the streets, shops, cafes and sights. It's probably one of my favorite cities. This time around I checked a few new places... our trip ended up being sort of a "death tour." 

Paris Catacombs

We started our sight seeing with a crypt. Due to health concerns many, many years ago, the city of Paris dug up the bones of 6 million people from its cemeteries, and moved them to former limestone mines 60 feet below ground and a mile long. In some places, bones were stacked 6 feet high and 8 feet deep. 

Warning for "people of a nervous disposition" 

Fortress cared into the limestone by a worker that had been imprisoned in the actual fortress. 

Pere Lachaise Cemetery
We checked out a famous cemetery, and found a great street flea market on the way! The cemetery was full of very ornate family tombs - some with iron doors, cool carvings, stained glass, etc. It was fun to wander around.

Jim Morrison of The Doors

Famous Chopin 

Conciergerie

In keeping with our "death tour" we went to the prison that housed Marie Antoinette, King Louis, and Robespierre during the French Revolution. It was an interesting museum, but sadly there were no guillotines on display. 

Sample jail cell

Memorial des Martyrs de la Deportation
Thanks to my Rick Steeve's travel book, I came across a memorial dedicated to 200,000 people that were deported from France to Nazi concentration camps during WWII. 

200,000 lights symbolizing each person that was deported

Notre Dame

And for more normal, light hearted sight seeing... Another first, I climbed the 400 stairs to the top of the bell tower for a great city view! 

The Notre Dame love lock bridge

The medallion on the ground marks "point zero" - the center of Paris. 

Waiting in line for the tower tour; gargoyles

Gargoyle with an "I'm bored" look

One of the Bell Towers

Facing opposite of the Eiffel Tower

 The streets of Paris

A famous ex-pat bookstore in the Latin Quarter along the Seine River. 

 And of course, the Eiffel Tower