Far beneath the boulevards of Paris lies an "empire of the dead" – a place where geology, public health, and memory meet in one unforgettable underground walk.
What Are the Catacombs of Paris?
The Catacombs of Paris (Catacombes de Paris) are a municipal ossuary located about 20 meters beneath the streets of the 14th arrondissement, near Place Denfert-Rochereau. Today, visitors follow a 1.5-kilometer circuit through former limestone quarries whose walls are carefully lined with the bones of an estimated six million people – a tiny portion of a much larger network of underground galleries that extends for many kilometers under the Left Bank.1,2,3
The site sits at a depth roughly equivalent to a five-story building and involves 243 steps in total: 131 steps down at the start of the visit and 112 steps back up at the end. Inside, the temperature remains around 14°C (57°F) all year, cool and often humid even in the height of summer.4
For travelers working with Italy Awaits Travel, the Catacombs are often a powerful counterpoint to the monuments of Paris you see at street level. This is the Paris of foundations and quarry stone, of overcrowded cemeteries, public-health reforms, Revolutionary fears and philosophical reflections on mortality.
From Limestone Quarries to Underground Ossuary
Paris Built on Stone
Much of the Left Bank of Paris rests on deposits of Lutetian limestone, the creamy building stone that helped create the city's churches, palaces and bridges. From the Middle Ages onward, stone was extracted in extensive underground quarries outside the city walls. Miners dug shafts down to the stone layer and then worked horizontally, leaving behind a honeycomb of tunnels that were poorly mapped and often abandoned once a deposit was exhausted.1
Over the centuries, Paris expanded and annexed its former suburbs. By the 18th century, whole neighborhoods sat above old quarry galleries – a fact that became impossible to ignore when several dramatic sinkholes and collapses opened in the streets, including a notorious collapse in 1774 near Rue d'Enfer on the Left Bank.1,5
Overcrowded Cemeteries and a Public-Health Crisis
At the same time, the city's inner cemeteries were dangerously overcrowded. The worst offender was the Cimetière des Innocents (Holy Innocents Cemetery) in the central Les Halles area, where burials had been taking place for centuries. Mass graves were filled and re-opened repeatedly, and neighbors complained of odor and health problems. In 1780, part of a basement wall collapsed on a property bordering the cemetery, spilling decomposing remains into adjoining cellars and prompting a public outcry.1,5,6
In response, authorities closed Les Innocents and banned further burials within the city walls, but that left a practical question: Where to put the dead? At the same time, engineers were already inspecting and reinforcing the old quarry tunnels to prevent further cave-ins under the streets. The idea emerged to use some of these stabilized galleries as a vast municipal ossuary, safely storing bones beneath the very city they once inhabited.
Creating the Ossuary
In the mid-1780s, the police lieutenant-general responsible for both public health and quarry inspection approved the plan to transfer remains from Paris's overcrowded cemeteries into the former quarries near the Rue de la Tombe-Issoire. The legal framework for this new ossuary was adopted in 1785, and work to prepare the underground site proceeded over the next several years.1,6
Beginning in 1788, nightly processions of covered wagons carried bones from cemeteries across the city to the new ossuary. These transfers continued for decades, as old burial grounds within the walls were emptied and re-purposed at the surface. Priests accompanied the convoys, chanting and blessing the remains as they moved through dark streets toward the quarry shafts.1,6
Over time, bones from multiple cemeteries – including Les Innocents and several parish graveyards – were brought here, ultimately creating one of the world's largest ossuaries. The term "Catacombs" was adopted by analogy with the early Christian catacombs of Rome, even though Paris's ossuary dates from a much later period and served a different purpose.
Designing an "Empire of the Dead"
Héricart de Thury and the Transformation of the Galleries
In the earliest years, bones were simply stacked along the quarry walls. In the early 19th century, however, the inspector of quarries Louis-Étienne Héricart de Thury oversaw a major transformation of the ossuary. Instead of random heaps, he ordered the bones arranged in carefully constructed walls, with rows of skulls and femurs forming façades and smaller fragments piled behind. He also added architectural features in antique and neo-Egyptian styles and installed plaques bearing moral and literary inscriptions about death and the passage of time.7
Héricart de Thury created what he described as both a memorial and a kind of underground museum. Some areas were given evocative names, and small "cabinets of curiosities" once displayed geological specimens and pathological examples of bone disease, connecting the ossuary to Enlightenment interests in science and education as well as spirituality.7
Opening to the Public
The Catacombs were first opened to limited visits in 1809. Over the 19th century, they attracted a mix of scientific visitors, royal guests and curious tourists. Writers and artists were fascinated by the juxtaposition of ordered skulls and bones with poetic inscriptions – an environment that seemed to underline the fragility of life and the equality of all people in death.7,8
Today, the ossuary is managed as one of the municipal museums of Paris. Only a small section of the underground network is open to the public, but it is enough to give a profound sense of the scale involved. Modern visitor statistics indicate hundreds of thousands of people pass through each year, with capacity strictly limited at any given time to protect the site and preserve the atmosphere.2,3,9
Planning a Visit: What to Expect Underground
Location, Tickets, and Opening Hours
The official entrance to the Catacombs is at 1 avenue du Colonel Henri Rol-Tanguy, on Place Denfert-Rochereau in the 14th arrondissement. The nearest metro and RER stops are Denfert-Rochereau, right next to the entrance.10
As of 2025, the Catacombs are generally open Tuesday to Sunday, from around 9:45 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., with last admission in early evening. They are closed on Mondays and on a few major holidays, and they sometimes open on certain French public holidays such as July 14 and November 1.4,11,12 Timed tickets are strongly recommended and are sold through the official website. Independent visitor guides note that tickets often sell out well in advance for peak days.9,12
Ticketing policies and hours can change, especially during restoration campaigns, so it is important to check the latest information before your trip. In late 2025, for example, Paris authorities announced a planned closure of the Catacombs for several months to address moisture and structural issues in the tunnels – a reminder that this is not just a tourist attraction but a fragile historic site.13
Physical Conditions: Stairs, Walking, and Temperature
A visit to the Catacombs is roughly a one-hour walk along a 1.5 km route. After a descent of 131 steps, you move through narrow corridors with a low ceiling before reaching the ossuary proper. Later, you climb 112 steps back up to the surface.4,8
Important practical points:
- The temperature is around 14°C / 57°F. Even on a hot summer day, a light jacket or sweater is recommended.
- The ground can be damp and uneven, so closed, non-slip shoes are advisable.
- There is no cloakroom; large luggage is not allowed, and you should bring only what you want to carry for the full hour underground.4,9
- Because of stairs and narrow passages, the visit is not suitable for wheelchairs or strollers, and may be difficult for travelers with reduced mobility or severe claustrophobia.
Atmosphere and Respect
Inside the ossuary, walls of bones are arranged in patterns, with skulls forming lines and arches. Plaques quote Biblical verses, classical authors, and 18th-century poetry on the themes of death and time. While photography is usually allowed for personal use, visitors are asked to behave quietly and respectfully: this is a burial site, not a theme park.
Many visitors describe the experience as somber and reflective rather than frightening. That said, it can be intense. Children and sensitive travelers may find the atmosphere overwhelming. For families, it is worth considering whether everyone in the group truly wants to go, and whether an alternative above-ground activity might be better for younger travelers.
Understanding the Catacombs in Context
Public Health, Memory, and Urban Planning
The Catacombs are often introduced as a curiosity or "macabre attraction," but they tell a powerful story about how a city manages life, death and space. In the late 18th century, Paris faced a double crisis:
- Underground instability from unregulated stone quarries that threatened buildings at the surface.
- Overcrowded cemeteries that were seen as health hazards for city residents.
Converting reinforced quarry galleries into an ossuary offered a single solution to both problems: stabilize the ground beneath the city and relocate remains from inner-city cemeteries to a more controlled environment. Modern historians note that the Catacombs project was part engineering, part health policy, and part symbolic act at a time when Enlightenment ideas and religious tradition were both deeply influential.5,10
Paris Above and Below
Only a small portion of Paris's underground world is open to the public. Beyond the official Catacombs lie kilometers of closed quarry tunnels, utility conduits, and other restricted areas. Some are used for infrastructure or storage; others are monitored because of unauthorized exploration by so-called "cataphiles," who sometimes enter illegally through hidden access points.2,10,13
Walking the official route, you are experiencing a curated slice of this larger underworld – one that has been intentionally arranged to evoke both order and contemplation. For many visitors, that contrast between the bright city and the quiet, structured ossuary is what makes the Catacombs so memorable.
Combining the Catacombs With an Italy-Focused Journey
For guests of Italy Awaits Travel, the Catacombs can be one chapter in a broader itinerary that links Paris and Italy. A common pattern looks like this:
- Spend several nights in Paris, visiting key sites such as the Louvre, the Seine, and the Catacombs.
- Travel by high-speed TGV from Paris to Provence or the Riviera in 2–3 hours, enjoying vineyards, hill towns, or lavender fields.
- Continue into Italy by high-speed train or short flight – perhaps to Milan, Florence, or Rome – and link this to a cruise departure from Civitavecchia or Ravenna, or to a land itinerary across Tuscany, the Amalfi Coast and beyond.
In this kind of itinerary, the Catacombs serve as a powerful reminder of Europe's deep historical layers. Standing among the bones of Parisians who lived centuries before Italian unification or modern tourism, you feel the continuity between ancient roads, medieval trade, Renaissance art, and the modern rail lines that now connect France and Italy so easily.
Italy Awaits Travel can coordinate:
- Timed Catacombs tickets on a day that fits smoothly around your museum visits and neighborhood walks in Paris.
- High-speed train connections from Paris onward to southern France and then Italy.
- A sequence of experiences that move from the reflective (like the Catacombs) to the celebratory – vineyards, coastal boat days, and Italian food experiences.
Practical Tips for a Thoughtful Visit
- Book early: Timed tickets can sell out, especially in summer and around holidays. Use the official website first.
- Dress for the environment: Bring a layer and wear sturdy shoes – it will feel chilly compared to the street.
- Travel light: Leave large bags at your hotel; there is no cloakroom and you will carry everything for the entire 1.5 km circuit.
- Consider your group: Think about whether children or anyone with claustrophobia or mobility issues will genuinely enjoy this experience.
- Be respectful: Remember that this is a burial place. Quiet voices, no flash photography if you can avoid it, and a reflective mindset all help preserve the atmosphere.
- Check for updates: Restoration works or safety concerns can temporarily change opening hours or even close the site, so always verify current conditions shortly before your visit.
Approached with care and understanding, the Catacombs are more than a curiosity. They are a window into how Paris has wrestled with the realities of life, death and space – a story that adds depth to any wider journey through France and Italy.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many steps are in the Paris Catacombs?
There are 243 steps total: 131 steps down at the entrance and 112 steps back up at the exit. The visit covers about 1.5 kilometers and takes roughly one hour.
How cold is it in the Catacombs?
The temperature underground stays around 14°C (57°F) year-round. Bring a light jacket or sweater even if it is hot outside.
Do I need to book tickets in advance for the Paris Catacombs?
Yes, timed tickets are strongly recommended and often sell out, especially in summer and around holidays. Book through the official website as early as possible.
Are the Paris Catacombs scary?
Most visitors describe the experience as somber and reflective rather than frightening. The bones are arranged respectfully with poetic inscriptions. However, the atmosphere can be intense for children or those sensitive to themes of mortality.
Can I visit the Catacombs with a wheelchair or stroller?
No, the site is not accessible for wheelchairs or strollers due to the 243 stairs and narrow passageways. It may also be difficult for travelers with reduced mobility or severe claustrophobia.
References
- Paris Catacombs official documentation on the history of limestone quarries beneath the Left Bank and the development of the underground ossuary.
- Municipal museum information on the extent of the underground tunnel network and visitor capacity management.
- Historical records documenting the estimated six million remains housed in the ossuary and the transfer process from city cemeteries.
- Official visitor information on the physical conditions of the Catacombs including temperature, step count, and route length.
- Historical accounts of 18th-century quarry collapses and the decision to reinforce underground galleries for public safety.
- Documentation on the closure of the Cimetière des Innocents and the 1785 legal framework establishing the municipal ossuary.
- Historical records on Louis-Étienne Héricart de Thury's transformation of the ossuary into an organized memorial with architectural features and inscriptions.
- 19th-century visitor accounts and literary descriptions of the Catacombs experience.
- Current ticketing policies and visitor guidance from the Catacombs official website.
- UNESCO and Paris historical documentation on the quarry inspection system and the relationship between underground infrastructure and surface development.
- Official opening hours and holiday schedule information for the Catacombs.
- Travel guides and visitor reports on advance booking requirements and ticket availability.
- News coverage of planned restoration closures and ongoing conservation work in the Catacombs tunnels.
