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Key figures

Origin and history

The catacombs of Paris, originally underground limestone quarries used to build the city, were transformed into a municipal ossuary at the end of the 18th century. Faced with the saturation of the Parisian cemeteries, especially that of the Saints-Innocents, and the problems of unsanitaryness which they caused, the authorities decided in 1785 to transfer the bones to these abandoned galleries. The project, inspired by ancient necropolises, was led by Charles-Axel Guillaumot, the first Inspector General of Quarries, and blessed in 1786. The transfers, organized with a solemn religious ritual, lasted until 1861, draining the remains of millions of Parisians, including personalities of the French Revolution.

Lossuaire, built under the plain of Montsouris (now 14th arrondissement), represents only a small part of the 300 km of underground quarries in Paris. The public galleries, 1.7 km long, were opened for visits in 1809 under the impetus of Louis-Étienne Héricart de Thury, who added literary inscriptions and macabre decorative arrangements. The site, closed several times for damage or works, became a place of worldly curiosity as early as the 18th century, attracting personalities such as the Count of Artois or Napoleon III. Today, it is managed by the Carnival Museum and welcomes more than 500,000 visitors annually.

The catacombs are home to emblematic sections such as the Port-Mahon Gallery, adorned with sculptures by a former English prisoner carrier, or the Samaritan fountain, a symbol of the memory of the deceased. Plates indicate the origin of the bones, coming from 17 cemeteries, 145 monasteries and 160 Parisian places of worship. Anonymous remains include those of historical figures such as Robespierre, Danton, or Lavoisier, transferred after the Revolution. The site, classified as a site museum, remains paid for in contrast to other municipal museums, due to its memory specificity and conservation costs.

In addition to their historical role, the catacombs have inspired legends and an underground counterculture, cataphilia, a clandestine practice of exploring galleries forbidden to the public. These networks, extending far beyond the official ossuary, contain dangers (falls, drownings, mishaps) and served as refuge at events such as the Paris Commune (1871). Secondary ossuary, such as the cemetery of the Père-Lachaise, were built in the 19th and 20th centuries to make up for the saturation of funeral spaces. The catacombs, now modernized (electric lighting, safety standards), close periodically for work, as planned in 2025-2026.

The tour, two kilometers long, starts at Place Denfert-Rochereau and ends at Rue Rémy-Dumoncel, after 130 downhill steps and 112 uphill steps. The constant temperatures (14°C) and the gloomy atmosphere, punctuated with philosophical or poetic quotations, make it a unique experience. Despite the bans, incidents such as the clandestine concert of 1897 or acts of vandalism (2009) recall the ambiguous fascination of this place, both sanctuary and tourist attraction. The catacombs thus embody a macabre heritage, historical and technical, reflecting the urban and health challenges of Paris throughout the centuries.

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