Paris Catacombs Reopen with Immersive Audio Experience After €5.5 Million Renovation
After a five-month closure for renovations costing €5.5 million, the Catacombs of Paris reopened on April 8, 2026. This renovation marks the most extensive update since 1809. Situated 20 meters below ground, the site boasts 1.5 kilometers of galleries, including 800 meters adorned with bone walls, and draws over 600,000 visitors each year. Improvements made during the renovation encompass upgrades to electrical systems, enhancements in fire safety, and air treatment. A new immersive audio experience, narrated by Louis-Étienne Héricart de Thury, delves into the history of the quarries. Accessibility has been improved with tactile models and multilingual audio descriptions. Established in the late 18th century, the Catacombs house 217 walls of human remains. Upcoming events include special access to the Port-Mahon quarry on June 12, 2026, and nighttime visits on September 19, 2026.
Key facts
- The Catacombs of Paris reopened on April 8, 2026 after a five-month renovation
- The €5.5 million renovation was the most extensive since the site opened to the public in 1809
- A new immersive audio experience guides visitors through 1.5 kilometers of galleries with approximately twenty narrative sequences
- The renovation addressed electrical systems, fire safety, and air treatment to regulate temperature, humidity, and CO₂ levels
- The site contains 800 meters of bone walls organized into 217 structures using medieval "hague" quarrying methods
- Over 600,000 visitors annually descend 130 steps to explore the ossuary 20 meters beneath Paris streets
- Accessibility features include tactile models, magnetic loops, and audio descriptions in four languages
- Special events include Port-Mahon quarry access on June 12, 2026 and nighttime visits on September 19, 2026
Entities
Artists
- Alexandre Dars
- Fédor Hoffbauer
- Jacques Delille
- Louis-Étienne Héricart de Thury
- Charles-Axel Guillaumot
- Isabelle Knafou
- Henri Matisse
- JR
- Christo
- Jeanne-Claude
- Lamartine
- Philippe Prost
Institutions
- Catacombs of Paris
- Ville de Paris
- Paris Musées
- Artemis Architectes
- Inspection générale des carrières
- Musée Carnavalet
- Connaissance des Arts
- Paris Catacombs
- Beaux Arts Magazine
- Bruel-Delmar
Locations
- Paris
- France
- Montrouge plain
- Tombe-Issoire
- Port-Mahon
- 75014 Paris
- Avenue du Colonel Henri Rol-Tanguy
- Hôtel de Ville, Paris
- Place de la Concorde
- Pont Neuf
- 75014