Art and history museums, charming museums, artists’ and writers’ houses … the fourteen City of Paris museums house collections of exceptional quality and diverseness. The collections are all, in varying degrees, a record of the history of Paris.
Priority Access With Audioguide
At the end of the 18th century, major health problems linked to the city’s cemeteries led to the decision to transfer their contents underground. The Parisian authorities chose an easily accessible site, located outside the capital: the old quarries of Tombe-Issoire, under the Montrouge plain. The first evacuations took place from 1785 to 1787 and affected the most important cemetery in Paris, the Saints-Innocents.
The site was dedicated “Municipal Ossuary of Paris” on April 7, 1786 and from that moment appropriated the mythical term “Catacombs”, in reference to the catacombs of Rome, an object of public fascination since their discovery. From 1809, the Catacombs became accessible to the public by appointment.
Duration of visit: 45 minutes
Constant temperature: 14°C 131 steps to go down and 112 steps to climb up.
Risk of falling: uneven and slippery floor. Narrow passageways. Dim light.
The site is not wheelchair accessible because of the conditions mentioned.
Strollers are not allowed either. Please use a baby carrier.
The site is not recommended for the motor disabled, pregnant women, individuals suffering from claustrophobia or cardiac or respiratory insufficiency, sensitive individuals who may be disturbed by the site.
The atmosphere may be anxiogenic for individuals with mental disabilities.
Sight-disabled individuals must be accompanied. Guide dogs for the blind are allowed, in addition to an accompanying person.
White canes are prohibited.
The prohibition to touch the works, bones and surroundings applies to everyone, including the sight disabled.
The number of site visitors is limited to 200. In case of a very large number of visitors, entrance may be temporarily interrupted.
The 1.5 kilometer circuit is one-way only. Entrance at 1, Avenue du Colonel Henri Rol-Tanguy and exit at 21 bis, Avenue René-Coty.
OPENING HOURS:
Tuesday to Sunday from 9.45 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.; last admissions at 7:30 p.m.
The Catacombs are open on July 14, August 15, November 1 and November 11.
Closed on Monday and certain holidays: January 1, May 1 and December 25.
PLEASE NOTE: Les Catacombes will be closed from 3rd November 2025 for approx 6 month renovation.
Tickets Must be pre-booked with a specific date and time ASA will provide an e-ticket with customer name.
