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The Catacombs of Paris are getting ready to close for six months of renovations this fall

undefined undefined 31 juillet 2025 undefined 08h30

The Editor

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According to information from the Parisien, the largest underground ossuary in the world will need to undergo some maintenance work to care for its remains. The site will no longer be open to the public starting November 3rd, and it will stay closed until spring 2026.

It’s one of the most unique and fascinating sites in the capital. Starting this autumn, the Catacombs of Paris will be closing their doors for a duration of six months. According to information from Le Parisien, the largest underground ossuary in the world, open to the public for two centuries, is about to begin a massive renovation campaign. With nearly 2,000 visitors each day, the site has become a must-see tourist attraction, but it is also suffering greatly. Extreme humidity, aging facilities, CO2 circulation: this is how the Catacombs aim to reinvent themselves to protect their treasures. 


Bringing the site up to standard

The work, starting on November 3rd, aims to upgrade the technical installations of the site. The ventilation, air circulation, electricity, and lighting will all be fully modernized to better preserve the galleries and enhance the visitor experience. These elements, which are crucial for the conservation of the bones, are subjected to a constant humidity and a daily influx of carbon. Some interventions have already been initiated in recent years without requiring closure, but this time, the scale of the project makes closing the site unavoidable. 

On the agenda as well: the renovation of the ossuary floor, creating a heritage room...designed to host temporary exhibitions, a redesign of the scenography, as well as audio guides, to provide a more educational and immersive experience. The goal, in short, is to tell the history of the place while enhancing its uniquely special atmosphere.


An Online Donation Call  

Behind this initiative is a new reception strategy that Paris Museums aims to implement. While the Catacombs mainly attract tourists, the City of Paris hopes to captivate a local audience that loves culture and heritage through a new event program. It's an ambitious project, which comes with a certain cost: a grant of 4.4 million euros has been approved by the City, with 1.3 million being released as early as this year. At the same time, a call for donations has been launched directly on the website, urging citizens to contribute to the preservation of this timeless place.