Get ready for an underground tour of Paris's spine-chilling cemetery, where the bones of seis millones people are displayed in a macabre arrangement. Wandering through these corridors is a fantastic and hair-raising experience, during which you'll learn everything about life (and death) in 18th-century Paris thanks to a multilingual audio guide. Discover the dark side of Paris!

In the late 18th century, serious public health problems associated with the city's cemeteries led to the decision to move their contents to an underground site. The Parisian authorities chose an easily accessible location that, at the time, lay outside the capital: the former Tombe-Issoire quarries, beneath the plain of Montrouge. The first transfers took place between 1785 and 1787 and affected Paris's largest cemetery, the Saints-Innocents.

The site was consecrated as the "Municipal Ossuary of Paris" on April 7, 1786 and subsequently took on the legendary name "Catacombs," a reference to the Roman catacombs that had captivated the public since their discovery. From 1809 onward, the Catacombs were opened to the public by appointment.

Today you can immerse yourself in the heart of history and explore at your own pace the corridors where skulls are neatly stacked. And with a multilingual audio guide, you'll learn more about this secret chapter of Paris's history.

• For safety reasons, suitcases and large luggage are not permitted inside the Catacombs. Only bags up to 40x30cm are allowed, and they must not be carried on your shoulders. No cloakroom is available on site.
• Temperatures inside the Catacombs can reach as low as 14°C, so dress accordingly.
• Audio guide: We recommend bringing your own earphones for the best experience.