The Weirder Side of Paris

Welcome to the weirder (and darker) side of the City of Light.

You've probably visited—or plan to visit—the Paris Catacombs. But for history buffs, travelers trying to escape the overcrowded "must-sees," and fans of the bizarre, macabre, or morbid, there's a lot more than the Catacombs to explore in the offbeat, often creepy side of the city that most tourists never see.

Forget all the clichés about romance—the most romantic sight you're likely to find in this oddball, grim, or gory Paris will be a tombstone. In these pages you'll discover the city's stranger secrets and grislier history, from the sites where the guillotine did its bloody work, to the graves of its victims; from the Louvre's forgotten medieval basement to a Métro station that celebrates potatoes; to statues of Death, a stroll through the sewers, and an irreverent look at some of the oddest (and ugliest) tombs in the famous cemeteries. With background and practical information for over a hundred bizarre and sometimes gruesome sights, weird artworks, wacky museums, and out-of-the-way historical locations, many free to visit, The Weirder Side Of Paris is an indispensable guide to the city that you never knew existed.