Catacombs of Paris

The Catacombs of Paris are an underground ossuary beneath Paris that contains the relocated remains of millions of Parisians and occupies part of the city’s former limestone quarries. The site is one of the most extensive and visited subterranean historic sites in Paris.

The public route leads through a sequence of candlelit galleries and chambers where bones are arranged along walls with plaques and inscriptions. The atmosphere is defined by quarry architecture and memorial displays rather than artefacts; the route is roughly 1.5 kilometres long and concludes near the surface at Place Denfert-Rochereau. The contrast between the city above and the subterranean galleries, plus the scale of the ossuary, are the main reasons people visit.

The subterranean network began as limestone quarries; in the late 18th century Paris authorities consolidated unstable tunnels and began transferring human remains from overcrowded cemeteries into the catacombs. The conversion and consolidation work were overseen by quarry inspectors and continued as the ossuary was arranged and made visitable.

Located under the southern part of Paris, the main visitor entrance is at Place Denfert-Rochereau in the 14th arrondissement, a short distance south of the Montparnasse area and accessible by several metro lines.

• Scale of the ossuary: Human remains from Parisian cemeteries were transferred to the site and the ossuary contains the bones of several million people.
• Tour length: The publicly accessible tour follows roughly 1.5 kilometres of passageways through the converted quarry and ossuary galleries.

What to See #

• Ossuary galleries: A sequence of ossuary galleries carved into former limestone quarries, arranged along a visitor route with carved inscriptions and sculpted displays.
• Entrance at Place Denfert-Rochereau: The main public entrance at Place Denfert-Rochereau providing access to the underground route beneath the 14th arrondissement.