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Origin and history

The archeological crypt of Ile de la Cité, formerly known as the crypt of Parvis Notre-Dame, is an underground museum located under the courtyard of Notre-Dame Cathedral in the 4th arrondissement of Paris. This site preserves archaeological remains dating from antiquity to the 19th century, discovered during preventive excavations carried out between 1964 and 1975, before the construction of a parking lot. Discoveries include Gallo-Roman public baths, a wall of the fourth century, medieval foundations, 18th century buildings and Haussmannian sewers.

The excavations, led by archaeologist Michel Fleury, revealed the historical importance of the site, leading to its preservation in the form of a museum crypt since 1967. However, hesitancy over the layout of the park delayed its opening until 1980. Meanwhile, additional excavations, carried out until 1988 by Wenceslas Kruta, allowed to discover a quay of the ancient port of Lutèce. The crypt was managed by the Musée Carnavalet until 2012, before being integrated into the Paris Museums network.

Since 2014, the crypt has offered 3D reproductions of Paris throughout the eras. After the fire at Notre-Dame in 2019, it reopened in July 2021, despite delays related to the Covid-19 pandemic. A project to refurbish the cathedral, planned between 2024 and 2027, includes a new entrance for the crypt, in order to better integrate it into its historical environment.

The exposed remains cover several periods: Gallo-Roman thermal baths, remains of St. Stephen's Cathedral, medieval houses, 18th-century buildings and 19th-century sewers. Despite its interest, the crypt remains not visible, its entry being poorly reported. It is accessible to people with reduced mobility and open from Tuesday to Sunday, with a fee, unlike most Parisian museums.

In 2016, a controversial project of giant glass slab to reveal the crypt, proposed by architect Dominique Perrault, was rejected by the town hall. Today, the crypt remains a unique testimony of the urban evolution of Paris, from the ancient port of Lutèce to the Haussmannian transformations.

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