What are the rules regarding catacombs?

a bit of discipline never hurt anyone! 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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Catacombs are definitely not for the claustrophobic – keep in mind that you're walking through narrow, underground tunnels which were dug out by hand. As Christian burial places, catacombs are considered sacred, so dress appropriately. Make sure your shoulders are covered, and avoid shorts or short skirts.

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What to Know Before Visiting the Catacombs in Paris
  1. Only 200 people are allowed to tour the Paris catacombs at any given time. ...
  2. You should definitely book your Paris catacombs tickets in advance. ...
  3. … ...
  4. The catacombs in Paris are not wheelchair accessible. ...
  5. Dress the part: wear comfortable shoes and bring a jacket.


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Even though it's illegal to access parts of the catacombs other than the site open to visitors, there's a group of urban explorers called “Cataphiles” who navigate the tunnels secretly.

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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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On exiting the Catacombs you will be searched to make sure you have brought no bones with you. There are no toilets or facilities during the tour and note you may have been queueing for some time before entry. There are guided tours you can purchase.

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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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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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The tour of the Catacombs is deep underground. The walking route is about 2km, about 1.25 miles and the average independent visit takes around one hour. You will first descend 130 steps down to the Catacombs and then at the end it's an 83-step climb to street level.

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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 been illegal to visit the catacombs since 1955, aside from a mile of tunnels that comprise the official Musée Carnavalet. A sign over the entrance reads “Arrête, c'est ici l'empire de la mort!” (“Stop!

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While tours of the catacombs are offered occasionally, sleeping there is generally impossible.

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The Catacombs of Paris is an underground ossuary in Paris that houses the remains of nearly six million people. Back in 1786, the entire underground population of Paris' cemeteries was relocated to quarry tunnels outside the city limits. Visitors can now explore the caverns and tunnels where the bodies were relocated.

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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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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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