Fancy spending a night getting cozy with up to six million of Paris's most distinguished residents? At least they'll be quiet.
Airbnb's newest Paris property —
Fancy spending a night getting cozy with up to six million of Paris's most distinguished residents? At least they'll be quiet.
Courtesy of Airbnb
For one night only, home rental website Airbnb is offering two brave souls the chance to win a Halloween stay in the Paris Catacombs -- the "world's largest grave." They'll have the honor of being the first living people to do so.
First living guests —
For one night only, home rental website Airbnb is offering two brave souls the chance to win a Halloween stay in the Paris Catacombs -- the "world's largest grave." They'll have the honor of being the first living people to do so.
Courtesy of Airbnb
Located 20 meters below street level, the Catacombs are a subterranean labyrinth of more than 300 kilometers of skull-lined tunnels -- although only a couple of kilometers are open to the public.
Skull-lined labyrinth —
Located 20 meters below street level, the Catacombs are a subterranean labyrinth of more than 300 kilometers of skull-lined tunnels -- although only a couple of kilometers are open to the public.
Courtesy of Airbnb
Walls are lined with the carefully arranged skulls and bones of the city's dead, which were reinterred during the 18th and 19th centuries after graveyards were closed due to public health concerns.
A new city of the dead —
Walls are lined with the carefully arranged skulls and bones of the city's dead, which were reinterred during the 18th and 19th centuries after graveyards were closed due to public health concerns.
Courtesy of Airbnb
The Catacombs are decorated with macabre inscriptions. This one translates as, "If you've ever seen a man die, consider that the same fate awaits you."
Bedtime reading —
The Catacombs are decorated with macabre inscriptions. This one translates as, "If you've ever seen a man die, consider that the same fate awaits you."
Courtesy of Airbnb
While this cheery reminder says, "Think in the morning that you might not see the evening, and in the evening that you might not see the morning."
Table talk —
While this cheery reminder says, "Think in the morning that you might not see the evening, and in the evening that you might not see the morning."
Courtesy of Airbnb
The Catacombs' famous residents include guillotine victims Princess Elisabeth of France and Maximilien Robespierre, architect of the French Revolution.
Famous residents —
The Catacombs' famous residents include guillotine victims Princess Elisabeth of France and Maximilien Robespierre, architect of the French Revolution.
Courtesy of Airbnb
Until now, the Catacombs' overnight guests weren't too concerned about their appearance, but the new sepulchral suite is kitted out with a dressing table, bed and dining area.
The suite —
Until now, the Catacombs' overnight guests weren't too concerned about their appearance, but the new sepulchral suite is kitted out with a dressing table, bed and dining area.
Courtesy of Airbnb
House rules warn visitors not to "follow ghosts" through the tunnels as "you might never find the exit." In 1793 Philibert Aspairt lost his way one night in the Catacombs. His remains weren't found for 11 years.
Don't get lost —
House rules warn visitors not to "follow ghosts" through the tunnels as "you might never find the exit." In 1793 Philibert Aspairt lost his way one night in the Catacombs. His remains weren't found for 11 years.
Courtesy of Airbnb
Would you dare spend Halloween in the Paris Catacombs?
CNN  — 

Finally, somewhere scarier to stay in Paris than that two-star place you checked into during that backpacking trip.

For one night only, home rental website Airbnb is offering two brave souls the chance to win a Halloween stay in the Paris Catacombs – the “world’s largest grave.”

They’ll have the honor of being the first living people ever to do so.

Located 20 meters below street level, the Catacombs are a subterranean labyrinth of more than 300 kilometers of skull-lined tunnels – although only a couple of kilometers are open to the public.

Six million residents

The walls are lined with the carefully arranged skulls and bones of the city’s dead, the fragmented remains having been reinterred there during the 18th and 19th centuries after graveyards inside the city walls were closed due to public health concerns.

The Airbnb competition is a chance to spend a night cuddled up to six million of Paris’s most distinguished residents.

At least they’ll be quiet.

The cheery inscription translates as, "Think in the morning that you might not see evening, and in the evening that you might not see morning."
The cheery inscription translates as, "Think in the morning that you might not see evening, and in the evening that you might not see morning."
Courtesy of Airbnb

MORE: City of the dead: The hidden treasures of Paris cemeteries

Until now, the only overnight guests in Airbnb’s newest Paris property weren’t so concerned about comfort, but the sepulchral suite will be kitted out with a bed, dressing table and dining area.

The winners will get a private tour, an undefined “daunting culinary experience,” and a storyteller to send them off to sleep (or sleeplessness) with some unpleasant bedtime tales.

House rules warn visitors not to “follow ghosts” through the tunnels as “you might never find the exit.”

Sage advice.

In 1793 Philibert Aspairt lost his way one night in the Catacombs. His remains weren’t found until 11 years later.

Victims of the guillotine

Famous residents include guillotine victims Princess Elisabeth of France and Maximilien Robespierre, architect of the French Revolution and the subsequent Reign of Terror, who lost his own head after taking those of others.

Bones are grouped according to the cemeteries they came from.

Some are neatly stacked, while others are arranged to create patterns and pictures.

L’empire de la mort

About 500,000 people visit the Catacombs each year -- but none have ever stayed overnight.
About 500,000 people visit the Catacombs each year -- but none have ever stayed overnight.
Courtesy of Airbnb

Mining engineer Louis-Etienne Hericart de Thury was responsible for the renovations that turned the bone-strewn caverns into a visitable mausoleum.

The archway inscriptions were also his idea.

“Arrete, c’est ici l’empire de la mort!” (“Stop! This is the empire of death!”) is a favorite.

MORE: ‘World’s first’ crypt hotel room opens in Maine

Airbnb has paid up to 350,000 euros ($400,000) to privatize the Catacombs, which includes the financing of renovation works, according to the AFP news agency.

Measures have also been put in place to ensure the safety of participants and the preservation of the ossuary.

Anyone interested in a sleepover 20 meters below the Paris streets – so deep that screams don’t carry – should visit the Catacombs’ listing on Airbnb no later than October 20 at 11.59 p.m. (CET).