The Catacombs of Paris are a network of old limestone quarry tunnels under the 14th arrondissement, where the bones of millions of Parisians were moved from overflowing city cemeteries from the late 18th century onwards. A section of around 1.5 kilometres is open to visitors, and walking through corridors lined with neatly stacked skulls and bones is one of the most memorable experiences in the city. A visit to the Catacombs of Paris needs some planning, because tickets sell out and the route involves a lot of stairs.
What the Catacombs of Paris are
For centuries, stone for the city's buildings was quarried from beneath its own streets, leaving tunnels under large parts of the Left Bank. By the 1780s, cemeteries such as the Cimetière des Innocents had become a serious health problem, and the authorities decided to transfer the remains into the old quarries. Over the following decades the bones were arranged into walls, with plaques, poems and inscriptions added along the way. Above the entrance to the ossuary a sign reads, in French, "Stop! This is the empire of death."
It is a sobering place rather than a horror attraction, and the scale is what stays with most visitors.
Only a small part of the tunnel network is open to the public. The rest is closed and entering it is illegal, so stay on the marked route. Staff check bags at the exit to make sure nobody leaves with bones as souvenirs.
Getting to the Catacombs of Paris by metro
The entrance is at Place Denfert-Rochereau, right beside Denfert-Rochereau station, served by metro lines 4 and 6 and by RER line B. The RER B links the station directly with Charles de Gaulle airport and the Latin Quarter. Look for the entrance pavilion opposite the large bronze Lion of Belfort in the middle of the square.
The exit is not at the same place. You come out on Avenue René-Coty, a short walk from the entrance. From there you can walk back to Denfert-Rochereau or continue to Mouton-Duvernet on line 4.
Tickets and opening hours
Entry is by timed ticket, and booking online in advance is very strongly recommended. Visitor numbers underground are limited, so slots can sell out days or weeks ahead in busy periods, and the queue for any remaining tickets can be long. Audio guides are available, and guided tours with access to extra areas are sometimes offered.
The Catacombs are usually closed on Mondays and on some public holidays. For current prices, hours and booking, use the official website, catacombes.paris.fr, and be wary of resellers charging high mark-ups for the same entry.
Best time to visit and how long it takes
The visit takes about an hour, sometimes a little longer if you stop to read the inscriptions. Early slots and weekday visits tend to feel less crowded in the tunnels. Since the experience is underground, weather does not matter, which makes it a good rainy-day plan.
Things to know before you go down:
- There are around 130 steps down at the start and more than 100 steps up at the end, with no lift.
- The tunnels stay cool all year, at around 14 degrees Celsius, so bring a light layer.
- The floor can be uneven and damp, so wear sensible shoes.
- There are no toilets or cloakroom underground, and large bags may be refused.
- The visit is not recommended for people with heart or breathing problems or who are uneasy in confined spaces.
Highlights underground
The quarry galleries
Before you reach the bones, the route passes through long quarry tunnels, including carved stone models of buildings made by a quarry worker in the 18th century.
The ossuary
Walls of femurs and skulls arranged in patterns, with plaques recording which cemetery the bones came from and when they were moved.
Inscriptions and poems
Reflections on death and time are carved or painted along the way, many in French and Latin.
Nearby on the same stop
- The Lion of Belfort: the bronze lion at the centre of Place Denfert-Rochereau.
- Rue Daguerre: a pedestrian market street with food shops and cafés, a few minutes away.
- Montparnasse Cemetery: the resting place of writers and artists such as Sartre, Beauvoir and Baudelaire, a short walk north-west.
- Parc Montsouris: a large landscaped park further south, reachable on RER B.
To see more around the station, open the Catacombs of Paris on Around the Metro, or explore other stops on the Paris metro map.