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

undefined undefined 31 juillet 2025 undefined 08h30

undefined undefined 8 octobre 2025 undefined 16h05

The Editor

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According to information from Parisien, the largest underground ossuary in the world will undergo some maintenance work to preserve its remains. The site will no longer be open to the public starting November 3rd, and 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 pulling down the curtain 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 embark on a major renovation campaign. With nearly 2,000 visitors each day, the site has become a must-visit tourist attraction, but it is also in great distress. Extreme humidity, aging facilities, CO2 circulation: this is how the Catacombs aim to reinvent themselves to protect their treasures. 


Bringing the site up to standards

The work, which will begin on November 3rd, aims to upgrade the technical installations of the site. The ventilation, air circulation, electricity, and lighting will all be completely modernized to better preserve the galleries and enhance the visitor experience. These elements, now crucial for the preservation 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 it impossible to avoid shutting down. 

Also on the agenda: the renovation of the ossuary floor, the creation of a heritage room, and more exciting improvements!

designed to host temporary exhibitions, the redesign of the scenography, as well as audio guides, to offer a more educational and immersive experience. The goal, in short: to tell the story of the place while enhancing its very special atmosphere.


An online donation call  

Behind this initiative is a new welcome strategy that Paris Musées aims to implement. While the Catacombs mostly attract tourists, the City of Paris hopes to entice a local audience more eager for culture and heritage through exciting new events programming. This is an ambitious project that comes with a cost: a grant of 4.4 million euros has been approved by the City, with 1.3 million set to be released this year.  At the same time, a donation call has been launched directly on the site, encouraging citizens to contribute to the preservation of this timeless place.