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Paris catacombs offer on Airbnb: spend the night with six million dead bodies Paris catacombs offer on Airbnb: spend the night with 6 million dead bodies
(about 17 hours later)
No one has ever woken up alive in Airbnb’s latest rental offer, but then again, no one has ever spent the night alongside six million dead Parisians in the city’s catacombs. No one has ever woken up alive in Airbnb’s latest rental offer, but then again, no one has ever spent the night alongside 6 million dead Parisians in the city’s catacombs.
Related: In a secret Paris cavern, the real underground cinemaRelated: In a secret Paris cavern, the real underground cinema
For Halloween, the home rental website is offering brave travellers a night in the sprawling tunnels filled with skulls and bones that is one of Paris’s most popular – and ghoulish – attractions.For Halloween, the home rental website is offering brave travellers a night in the sprawling tunnels filled with skulls and bones that is one of Paris’s most popular – and ghoulish – attractions.
The competition launched on the website offers two people a night in the catacombs on 31 October, with a “real bed”, dinner with private concert and breakfast.The competition launched on the website offers two people a night in the catacombs on 31 October, with a “real bed”, dinner with private concert and breakfast.
“Before bedtime, a storyteller will have you spellbound with fascinating tales from the catacombs, guaranteed to produce nightmares. Finally, enjoy dawn with the dead, as you become the only living person ever to wake up in the Paris catacombs,” reads the listing.“Before bedtime, a storyteller will have you spellbound with fascinating tales from the catacombs, guaranteed to produce nightmares. Finally, enjoy dawn with the dead, as you become the only living person ever to wake up in the Paris catacombs,” reads the listing.
Town hall sources said on Monday the California-based Airbnb paid up to 350,000 euros to privatise the tunnels.Town hall sources said on Monday the California-based Airbnb paid up to 350,000 euros to privatise the tunnels.
The transfer of human remains from Parisian cemeteries to the tunnels began towards the end of the 18th century, when authorities realised that the decomposition of bodies in the city’s cemeteries was not particularly good for public health.The transfer of human remains from Parisian cemeteries to the tunnels began towards the end of the 18th century, when authorities realised that the decomposition of bodies in the city’s cemeteries was not particularly good for public health.
“It was said that the wine was turning bad and the milk was curdling,” Sylvie Robin, the site’s curator, told AFP in an interview last year.“It was said that the wine was turning bad and the milk was curdling,” Sylvie Robin, the site’s curator, told AFP in an interview last year.
Among the bones lining the walls of the 2km-long (1.2-mile) tunnels – only a small part of a network of abandoned underground quarries – are pictures and quotes about mortality.Among the bones lining the walls of the 2km-long (1.2-mile) tunnels – only a small part of a network of abandoned underground quarries – are pictures and quotes about mortality.
“Think in the morning that you might not survive until the evening, and in the evening that you might survive until the morning,” reads one.“Think in the morning that you might not survive until the evening, and in the evening that you might survive until the morning,” reads one.
The house rules section on Airbnb, which allows property dwellers and owners to rent a room or entire home, warns guests to “respect the catacombs as you would your own grave”.The house rules section on Airbnb, which allows property dwellers and owners to rent a room or entire home, warns guests to “respect the catacombs as you would your own grave”.
The catacombs, some 20m under the sewers and metro system, lures some 500,000 visitors a year. It has already been rented out to film crews and for fashion shows.The catacombs, some 20m under the sewers and metro system, lures some 500,000 visitors a year. It has already been rented out to film crews and for fashion shows.
Related: Airbnb hotspots: why the Isle of Dogs beats Covent GardenRelated: Airbnb hotspots: why the Isle of Dogs beats Covent Garden
Writers such as Victor Hugo, Gaston Leroux and Anne Rice have all drawn inspiration from the spooky network of tunnels.Writers such as Victor Hugo, Gaston Leroux and Anne Rice have all drawn inspiration from the spooky network of tunnels.
Airbnb, which was launched in 2008 and now has some 40 million users worldwide, recently agreed to pay a tourist tax to Paris from each of its bookings in the city.Airbnb, which was launched in 2008 and now has some 40 million users worldwide, recently agreed to pay a tourist tax to Paris from each of its bookings in the city.
The website has raised the ire of traditional hotel chains who see it as a rival that flouts tax laws.The website has raised the ire of traditional hotel chains who see it as a rival that flouts tax laws.
The Paris town hall said the privatisation of the Catacombs would “boost capital by finding new sources of revenue [and allow for] the preservation of this heritage site”.The Paris town hall said the privatisation of the Catacombs would “boost capital by finding new sources of revenue [and allow for] the preservation of this heritage site”.