Catacombs of Paris

Inspite of being somewhat morbid, the Catacombs are a burial plot with a rich and fascinating history and draw crowds of visitors year round

Passage into the Catacombs of Paris
Passage into the Catacombs of Paris cc licensed photo by CHRISTOPHER MACSURAK

The Catacombs of France is a tourist attraction for those who like to add a little spookiness to their vacation activities. The catacombs are literally a burial plot of astronomic proportions. However, they are a burial plot with a rich and fascinating history.

Before Christianity came along, it was common practice to bury the dead outside the city walls. Christianity dictated that the dead should be buried in consecrated ground around churches and this time it was difficult to do so since the areas around the churches were already well built up and there was no space to put in large cemeteries. Those that were available soon became overcrowded and a mass burial plot was opened near the St. Opportune church. This burial plot caused a lot of sanitation problems but was still used even when the ground was saturated with human remains.

Eventually the inner city cemeteries were closed and new ones were opened outside the city limits. Even the long abandoned stone quarries outside the city were pressed into use as burial places. The transfer of the dead to these quarries started in 1786 and finished in 1788. The catacombs hold the remains of around six million people. Land was bought from a local property named "La maison de la Tombe Issoire" and many sets of bones were deposited in the underground caverns in this area along with crosses and urns and other memorabilia.

When you visit the catacombs you will travel down a staircase and then through a long tunnel to find yourself faced with a stone portal inscribed with the words Arrete! C'est ici l'empire de la Mort ('Halt! This is the Empire of the Dead'). It is beyond this stone portal that the tour truly begins. There are halls and walls of carefully arranged bones. Some of the bone arrangements are actually really artistic although they are macabre.

If you plan to visit the Catacombs then you will need to know that the site limits visitors to 200 at one time. There are also no toilets or cloakrooms and it is also good to keep in mind that it will be cooler in the underground passages. It is vital that children who are younger than 14 years of age are accompanied by at least one adult and the parents of young children are advised against bringing their children into the catacombs. If you are not very mobile then you may also want to consider other activities as there are many steps to go up and down. You do not need much time for the actual tour as it is only 2km long (around 45 min) but the queues can get rather long and entries can be stopped to ensure the 200 visitor limit is adhered to.

Nearby attractions: Rue Mouffetard Market

Facts For Your Visit

Fee: Yes

Catacombs of Paris Hours:
Opening hours may differ on holidays

  • Monday: Closed
  • Tuesday: 9:45 AM – 8:30 PM
  • Wednesday: 9:45 AM – 8:30 PM
  • Thursday: 9:45 AM – 8:30 PM
  • Friday: 9:45 AM – 8:30 PM
  • Saturday: 9:45 AM – 8:30 PM
  • Sunday: 9:45 AM – 8:30 PM

Address: 1 Av. du Colonel Henri Rol-Tanguy, 75014 Paris, France

Official Website: Catacombs of Paris

Catacombs of Paris Reviews

Rated 4.1 out of 5 Star Rating

5 Star Rating Wow what a historical part of Paris. We got the audio while walking through and it was so informative and told you so much history and information. It is just amazing how many bones and bodies make up the designs that you see. The history and the stories that you will hear and read is so interesting. We went during the Olympics and they were busy, but not too bad since we went in the morning. Would recommend during your visit to Paris. There are a lot of steps both and down and up, but they are easy to manage.
Teresa Brown - a month ago

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4 Star Rating You definitely need to get the tickets in advance(only sold one week prior to the day you require entry). And be sure to buy from the official website...I have heard there are fakes out there. Our entry time was 10:45am. We walked up at about 10:40, went through the security line quickly, declined the audio tour, and started walking down the spiral staircase. They only let 200 people down at a time, and there is a digital display on the wall right before you descend, keeping track. DO NOT underestimate the physical part of this. The stairs going up and down are not for the faint of heart. It can easily make you dizzy, and obviously, it is just a plain physical strain going up and down. Plus, the path down below is uneven, slick, and cramped. Do not go down if you're claustrophobic or over 6 foot 2 inches. My husband is that tall, and he almost hit his head in several spots and even had to tilt his head sideways while walking at times. It was a gruesome yet fascinating part of Paris to see. All in all, we spent about 30 minutes below ground.
Suomirakastaa - 3 weeks ago

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5 Star Rating A must visit place to explore the history of Paris city. It allows a limited number of people everyday, so you have to book tickets in advance. You need to climb lots of stairs to go down. Plus this place is claustrophobic. So make sure that you are aware of these points before visiting. You can skip the audio guides as information is present on board in French and English at all the important points inside. It will take you around 40 mins to cover this place.
Alok Aditya - in the last week

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4 Star Rating First off, please buy the tickets only from the official site, no need for you to get scammed on the 3rd party websites. On there, the adult ticket can cost upwards of 90+ euros, while on the official site you can get it for much, much less. Also, buying the tickets is somewhat of a must, as they sell out really quickly a lot of the time. The slots open 1 week in advance, good luck! Second, please do not use flash from your camera, if your phone has it, use the night mode where you stand still from 1 to 10s to allow more light to enter the sensor and get some quite good results. The audo guide is completely worth it, both me and the Miss think so. She had hers in French, and I took mine in English as I was more at ease with it. You also have a Spanish and a German(if my memory serves me correctly) version of it. The steps up and now are not that exhausting, average physical form is enough. You have something like ~120 steps both ways, though the staircase is your classical circle one, so you might get dizzy along the way if you're descending fast. We took around 1h, but we stopped to read all the plaques, and did discuss them along the way, you would usually take around 45 to 50 minutes. Enjoy the experience, there's no need to rush it. On the walls you can see signs from time to time with a human ear and a number alongside it, that means you should listen to the section X of your audio guide if you have one. At least in the summer (32C on the surface), the temperature was bearable and we'd classify it as "t-shirt weather". Overall the history behind this place is incredible, and they really cater to tourists with the multi-lingual signs, you won't feel left out, that's for sure!
Mihailo Pavlovic - 2 months ago

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5 Star Rating The Catacombs of Paris offer a unique experience, with underground tunnels lined with human bones, providing a fascinating glimpse into the city’s history. It’s a haunting yet intriguing attraction, perfect for those seeking something different. Booking in advance is highly recommended, as it can get crowded, especially during peak times. A must-see for history enthusiasts, though be prepared for the somber atmosphere.
Christophe Jacob - 2 weeks ago

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Directions

Metro / RER Line Nearest Station Walking Time
M4, M6, RER-BDenfert-Rochereau1 minute

How to get to Catacombs of Paris by Metro / RER

By Metro or RER: exit at Denfert-Rochereau‎ Station and look for the small green building (and probably a queue) directly across the street from the station.

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