Last Updated: January 15, 2021
The Catacombs of Paris are underground ossuaries which hold the skeletal remains of over 6 million deceased Parisians.
The Catacombs (the ossuary open to the public) occupy a tiny part of the former stone quarries of Paris; only 1.7km is accessible to the public. What locals call the “Catacombs” are actually a massive network of about 300km long (!!!) underground tunnels and galleries which lie underneath Paris. And those abandoned quarries are a massive playground for the Cataphiles*!
The entire tunnel network is located 20 meters below the ground, under the metro and the sewer system. To give you an idea, this is approximately equivalent to the size of a 5-storey building.
*In case you didn’t know, a cataphile is a local urban explorer who visit regularly (and illegally) the underground tunnels of Paris.
A Short History of the World’s Largest Graveyard
Before the “Catacombs of Paris”, there were stone quarries with kilometers of underground tunnels and galleries.
In the late 18th century, Paris was facing a massive problem; cemeteries were overflowing, there was no place to bury corpses and as a result, Paris had to deal with an extreme sanitary crisis. To solve Paris’ major public health issues, the Parisian authorities decided to move the corpses from the overflowing cemeteries inside the former quarries. Millions of corpses were relocated to the underground site. The skeleton remains from the cemetery of the Holy Innocents were the first to be transferred to the ossuary (2 million Parisians were buried in this cemetery alone).
The site was officially named the “Paris Municipal Ossuary” in 1786, but was quickly nicknamed “Catacombs” in reference to the Catacombs of Rome. Technically, “Catacombs” are underground cemeteries. Unlike the Catacombs of Milos or Catacombs of Rome, the Catacombs of Paris aren’t underground cemeteries; the dead were never buried in chambers nor tombs but instead, the bones were dumped and piled into the galleries.
The Catacombs of Paris officially opened for the first time to the public in 1809 at the initiative of Hericart de Thury. All the bones were arranged to attract visitors, and it was immediately a success.
About 6 million deceased Parisians, including historical figures (Architect Jules Hardouin-Mansart, Danton, Robespierre, to name but a few) are now resting in the Catacombs of Paris.
Good to know
1- The number of visitors allowed inside the Catacombs is limited to 200 at a time. The Catacombs are a very popular attraction in Paris and the waiting line is usually extremely long (often up to 2-3 hours). We strongly advise to book a quick-access ticket online.
2- The duration of the visit is about 45 minutes. Dress comfortably. Do not wear heels.
3- The Guided Tours give you access to areas not open to the public (available on Thursdays).
4- This attraction is NOT recommended for those suffering from claustrophobia.
The other secret catacombs
Today, you can only visit a small section of the catacombs (only 1.7km is open to the public).
However, the massive tunnel network underneath Paris is frequently explored by the Cataphiles. Nocturnal underground explorations to the illegal Catacombs of Paris (which are in fact the former quarries of Paris) attract many local urban explorers.
If you’ve never been down there with other cataphiles before, do not go by yourself. Exploring the catacombs isn’t without risk and it can be extremely dangerous to venture there alone. If you really want to explore the catacombs, you will need the help of a cataphile. Again, do NEVER venture there alone! It is easy to get lost inside this giant maze. 300km of tunnels are not a joke.
How to get to the Catacombs?
The Catacombs of Paris are located in the 14th Arrondissement. You’ll find the entrance at 1, Avenue du Colonel Henri Rol-Tanguy in Place Denfert-Rochereau; the exit is at 2, Avenue René Coty.
MAP
Using the public transportation is by far the easiest way to reach the Catacombs of Paris.
You can access the Catacombs of Paris by metro: Denfert-Rochereau station (Metro Lines 6 or 4) or by RER: RER B (Denfert-Rochereau).
You can also access the Catacombs of Paris by bus (38 or 68).
If you booked your tickets in advance, head directly to the priority line near the main entrance. If you didn’t book a ticket (which we do not advise), join the (most probably very long) queue.
The Catacombs of Paris are open Tuesdays to Sundays from 10am to 8:30pm.
Our opinion
An underground ossuary lying beneath Paris! That’s obviously fascinating! And we weren’t disappointed. The experience was quite unique and Krishna and I loved it.
All those bones were once people like us, people who breathed, who laughed, who cried, people with stories and dreams… It was quite educational as well.
Is it worth it?
Yes, except if you are claustrophobic or repulsed by the idea of seeing (tons of!) skeletons. It is a very unique attraction in Paris and we think the Catacombs of Paris are a must-see. However, we strongly advise to buy a “quick-access” ticket online as the waiting line can be extremely long (you can easily wait up to 3 hours).
We are finishing this post with one of our most favorite Catacombs quotes:
“They were what we are
Dust, toy of the wind
Fragile like men
Weak as nothingness”
Have you ever visited the catacombs? Did you like it? What were your impressions? Would you recommend it?
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