Twenty meters underground in a maze of galleries, visitors will discover an ossuary containing the remains of several million Parisians. This unique site recalls the history of these Parisians and invites visitors to take a timeless journey.
The Catacombs of Paris are underground ossuaries in Paris, France, which hold the remains of more than six million people in a small part of a tunnel network built to consolidate Paris’ ancient stone mines.
Extending south from the Barrière d’Enfer (“Gate of Hell”) former city gate, this ossuary was created as part of the effort to eliminate the city’s overflowing cemeteries.
Preparation work began not long after a 1774 series of gruesome Saint Innocents-cemetery-quarter basement wall collapses added a sense of urgency to the cemetery-eliminating measure, and from 1786, nightly processions of covered wagons transferred remains from most of Paris’ cemeteries to a mine shaft opened near the Rue de la Tombe-Issoire.
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 September 2025 for 6 month for renovation.
Tickets Must be pre-booked with a specific date and time ASA will provide an e-ticket with customer name.
