Catacombes de Paris

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  • Address
    1 avenue du Colonel Henri Rol-Tanguy, 14e, 75014
  • Show map Close map
  • Phone
    43 22 47 63
  • Website
  • Transport
    underground rail: Denfert Rochereau
bus: 38, 68
  • Tue-Sun 10:00 - 17:00

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Lonely Planet review

In 1785, Paris decided to solve the problem of its overflowing cemeteries by exhuming the bones of the buried and relocating them to the tunnels of several disused quarries, leading to the creation of the Catacombes. Visitors to this disturbing 'attraction' will find themselves 20m (65ft) underground, working their way along corridors stacked with bones.

During WWII, the tunnels were used as a headquarters by the Resistance. People over 60 can get in for free, which says a lot about the French sense of humour.

The route through the Catacombes begins at a small, dark green belle époque -style building in the centre of a grassy area of av Colonel Henri Roi-Tanguy, the new name of place Denfert Rochereau. The exit is at the end of 83 steps on rue Remy Dumoncel, 700m southwest of place Denfert Rochereau, where a guard will check your bag for 'borrowed' bones. Indeed, so-called cataphiles looking for cheap thrills are often caught roaming the tunnels at night (there's a fine of 60 Euros).