Is it legal to go into the Paris catacombs?

Today, the only legal place to visit this underground realm is the Paris Catacombs, a nearly mile-long stretch in the 14th arrondissement that takes its name from the famous ossuary housed there.



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A good guide is indispensable, and many guides occasionally refer to a map. Because of these dangers, accessing the catacombs without official escort has been illegal since 2 November 1955.

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It's Illegal, But Here Are 10 Things To Show What It's Like To Go Inside The Catacombs In Paris.

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Unfortunately, the Paris Catacombs are not free. Tickets must be purchased for entry. While the cost can vary, it's important to note that the price includes access to the fascinating world beneath the city, which once were limestone quarries.

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What to Know Before Visiting the Catacombs in Paris
  • Only 200 people are allowed to tour the Paris catacombs at any given time. ...
  • You should definitely book your Paris catacombs tickets in advance. ...
  • … ...
  • The catacombs in Paris are not wheelchair accessible. ...
  • Dress the part: wear comfortable shoes and bring a jacket.


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This isn't the first time that people have been lost in catacombs. According to Buzzfeed, legend has it that Philibert Aspairt died after getting lost in the underground maze of the Paris catacombs in 1793 — and his body wasn't found until eleven years after his death. (Ironically and tragically, close to an exit.)

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However, the strong smell of the Paris catacombs is apparently what all the initial signs were warning sensitive visitors about. At best, it could be likened to the dusty, incense-infused scent of old stone churches, but with an underlying malaise that can only be attributed to the contents of multiple cemeteries.

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Paris is one of the great medieval cities of Europe. Like Rome, it has vast underlying passageways and quarries, called catacombs. This labyrinth of tunnels is thought to cover around 800 hectares — that's nearly 2,000 acres — beneath the city, though only a small part is explored and open to the public.

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Some areas of the tunnels even became shrines for martyrs buried there. But after Christianity was legalized in 313 AD, funerals moved above ground, and by the 5th Century, the use of catacombs as grave sites dwindled, though they were still revered as sacred sites where pilgrims would come to worship.

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To ensure preservation of the site, you must not eat or drink on the site circuit, and animals are not allowed. Any kind of alcohol is prohibited. And, of course, you must not touch the bones, which are the fragile remains of millions of Parisians.

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Despite the ritual with which they were transferred, the bones had simply been dumped into the tunnels in large heaps. Slowly but surely the quarrymen lined the walls with tibias and femurs punctuated with skulls which form the basis of most of the decorations that tourists see today.

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The Paris Catacombs have a fascinating history which dates back to ancient times, and is the final resting place of over 6 million Parisians.

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How to dress ? You can leave your boots at home, but be sure to wear comfortable shoes! However, waiting in front of the entrance can be long, even in winter, so don't forget to dress warmly.

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In 1789, Paris, France, the world, the course of history was rocked by the French Revolution. From around this date, people were buried directly in the catacombs. This came to an end in 1860 when people ceased to be buried in the catacombs.

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Among the many anonymous people who rest in the catacombs, there are some celebrities from French history such as Nicolas Fouquet (Louis XIV's superintendent of finance), Colbert, Rabelais, Jules Hardouin-Mansart, Racine, Blaise Pascal, Maral, Lully, Danton, Robespierre, Lavoisier but also the 1343 people guillotined ...

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Sixty-five feet underground (twenty meters), beneath the iconic streets of Paris remains another world; a world full of darkness, death, suffering: here lies the bodies of roughly six million Parisians.

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The tour involves descending into the earth on stairs and uneven ground. The walkways are strewn with pebbles and may become slippery in moist areas. I highly suggest you wear tennis shoes or rubber sole shoes; the more comfortable, the better as you will be walking a distance. The catacombs is a must see.

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