Paris Catacombs Reopen After Five-Month Renovation
The Paris Catacombs are reopening to the public on April 8, 2026, after a major €5.5 million renovation. A new immersive experience, LED lighting, and high-quality headphones are transforming the visitor experience at the world's largest underground ossuary.
An Underground Project Worth €5.5 Million
Closed since November 3, 2025, the Paris Catacombs officially reopen their doors this Tuesday, April 8, 2026. After five months of extraordinary work carried out twenty meters underground, the world's largest underground ossuary — housing the remains of more than six million Parisians — is revealed in a completely new light.
The €5.5 million investment, led by Artemis Architectes, focused on a complete overhaul of the site's technical installations. The electrical network has been completely replaced, the air handling units modernized, and the fire safety systems brought up to current standards. An intelligent control system now continuously measures temperature, CO₂ levels, and humidity, ensuring optimal conditions for both the preservation of the bones and the comfort of visitors.
A Reimagined Immersive Experience
Beyond the technical renovation, the entire visitor experience has been transformed. The scenography of the 1.5-kilometer route has been completely redesigned with LED lighting that reveals previously invisible architectural details on the bone walls, while ensuring better preservation of the heritage.
The major innovation lies in the new sound mediation system: a high-quality immersive headset replaces traditional audio guides. Around twenty narrative sequences are automatically triggered along the route, featuring the voice of Louis-Étienne Héricart de Thury, Inspector General of the Quarries in the 19th century. The audio guide is available in French, English, Spanish, and German.
The signage has also been redesigned, with new explanatory panels and interactive digital devices that enhance the understanding of this historically significant site.
Enhanced Accessibility and Inclusion
The site, which remains inaccessible to people with reduced mobility due to its 131 spiral staircase steps and narrow passages, has nevertheless strengthened its sensory accessibility offerings. Tactile models, videos in French Sign Language with English subtitles, and audio description tracks now accompany the tour.
Practical Information and Prices
The Catacombs welcome approximately 600,000 visitors per year, with a capacity limited to 200 people simultaneously in the galleries. Online booking is now mandatory via the Paris Musées ticket office.
- Full price: €31 (immersive headset included)
- Reduced price: €25 (ages 5-26, students, Paris Pass Famille)
- Children 5-17 years: €12 (without audio guide)
- Free: under 5 years old and first Sunday of the month
The site is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 9:45 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. (last entry at 7:30 p.m.), and is located at the Denfert-Rochereau metro station (lines 4 and 6). Given the high demand, it is strongly recommended to book several weeks in advance.
As Isabelle Knafou, the site's director, summarizes, the objective of this major renovation is to "protect both visitors and the vestiges buried beneath the capital," in order to transmit this unique heritage to future generations.
