Paris Catacombs guided tours...

✔️ Grant access to restricted areas

A guided tour unlocks exclusive access to sections of the Catacombs closed to the general public, including a chapel filled with bones.

✔️ Are led by expert guides

Your tour is led by an expert English-speaking guide who brings the Catacomb’s history to life, sharing intriguing facts, legends, and insights.

✔️ Are small group tours

With a group size limited to 19 people, the experience is more intimate. Small groups allow for better interaction with your guide and a quieter atmosphere underground.

Discover the Catacombs with expert-led guided tours

Step into the eerie depths (20 meters) of the Paris Catacombs with our expert-led guided tours, offering exclusive access to areas restricted to the general public. Beneath the bustling streets of Paris lies a labyrinth of tunnels holding centuries of history and the remains of over six million people (some as old as 1200 years).

The small-group tours (maximum 19 people) ensure an intimate and immersive experience, with expert guides sharing captivating stories, historical insights, and hidden details about this fascinating underground world. Uncover the secrets of the Catacombs, from the intricate bone arrangements to the compelling tales of its creation.

Whether you're a history buff or a curious traveler, the tours promise an unforgettable journey into the heart of Paris’ mysterious underworld.

Read more about the Catacombs here

Highlights of a Paris Catacomb guided tour

Access to restricted areas

Guided tours unlock secret sections of the Catacombs which are not accessible on general visits. These include the Sacellum Crypt, featuring rare bone arrangements and inscriptions, and the Port-Mahon corridor, where François Décure’s sculptures can be admired up close, hidden altars and ossuary chambers.

Port-Mahon corridor

This corridor displays sculptures by François Décure, a quarryman who carved a replica of the Port-Mahon fortress entirely from memory. He spent five years, in secrecy, carving out these sculptures using simple quarrymen tools and working under torchlight. He was crushed in a cave-in at the same spot while carving a stairway to access his sculptures, from the streets above.

The quarryman’s footpath

Reminiscent of a wishing well, quarrymen used this walkway to access water for cement mixing and to wash up after work. The pathway leads to one of the most interesting sections of the Catacombs, filled with skull displays, inscriptions, graves, and chapels commemorating the dead.

The Ossuary

This section comes right after the exhibition area and is one of the interesting sections of the Catacombs. It contains the bones of over 6 million Parisians, arranged in various patterns, the most popular being–the Barrel of Passion. A welcome sign at the entrance prepares you for the ossuary–Arrête! C’est ici l’empire de la Mort which translates to “Stop! This is the Empire of the Dead”.

Frequently asked questions about Paris Catacombs guided tours

A guided tour provides access to restricted areas, interactive Q&A opportunities, and shares stories and historical details not included in audio guides, making it a richer experience. Although, audio guides do allow you the flexibility to explore at your desired pace.