The world’s largest bone repository will have its first complete shutdown since opening to the public over two centuries ago.
If you’ve been putting off that trip to Paris’s famous underground cemetery, now’s the time to act. The Paris Catacombs are shutting their doors on November 3, 2025, and won’t reopen until spring 2026. It’s the first time in living memory that this sprawling necropolis, final resting place for over six million deceased Parisians, will be entirely off-limits to the public.
The closure isn’t just for routine maintenance. Although workers have been quietly restoring sections since 2023, this upcoming project represents something much bigger – a complete overhaul of what many consider the world’s most macabre tourist attraction.
So perhaps it’s best to get your visit in now, before the place is ‘updated’.
Descent into the Parisian catacombs that are open to the public can be a wonderful, if eerie, experience. In order to enjoy the experience safely, make sure you stick to a legitimate guided tour, perhaps by visiting the Paris City Vision site and checking out the catacombs tour packages listed there (Check out Paris catacombs tickets).