Paris Catacombs Reopen April 8th After Extensive Renovations
Paris, April 2, 2026 – The historic Paris Catacombs, a unique underground ossuary and former quarry, are set to reopen on April 8th, 2026, following five months of extensive and “indispensable” renovation work. The reopening promises a redesigned scenography aimed at attracting a new public, particularly Parisians, to this site that previously welcomed 600,000 visitors annually.
Essential Works for Preservation and Enhanced Experience
The renovation project, which began in November 2025, focused on crucial technical improvements to preserve the delicate environment of the Catacombs, located 20 meters beneath the city streets. Isabelle Knafou, administrator of the Paris Catacombs, emphasized the urgency of these works, citing the need to protect the human remains in an environment with a humidity level close to 90%. Improvements include upgrades to ventilation, lighting, and electrical systems.
During a site visit on March 24, 2026, restorers were seen putting the finishing touches on painted pillars, and explanatory panels were being prepared. The new scenography aims to immerse visitors in a “somewhat strange sensory state” within the “entrails of Paris.” This includes a refitted floor at the ossuary entrance and new subdued spot lighting designed to highlight the bone arrangements. The new lighting also harks back to the candlelit visits of the Catacombs, a tradition that continued until 1974.
Attracting a New Audience: A Focus on Parisians
Before its temporary closure, approximately three-quarters of the Catacombs’ 600,000 annual visitors were foreigners, primarily Americans. The redesigned scenography seeks to draw in more residents of the capital. “I really want Parisians to reclaim this history,” stated Isabelle Knafou, highlighting the desire to encourage local engagement with this significant Parisian landmark.
The visitor experience is now divided into two distinct parts: the discovery of the ancient limestone quarries, which provided the stone for building much of Paris, and the municipal ossuary itself. The ossuary houses the bones and skulls of millions of Parisians who died between the 10th and 18th centuries, transferred there from the 1780s onwards. The site has been open to the public since 1809.
Isabelle Knafou noted that the ossuary contains the remains of all strata of society, from the poor to the rich, and from anonymous individuals to historical figures like those from the French Revolution and Molière. She underscored the Catacombs as a place where one becomes aware of “the equality of men in the face of death.” This philosophy underpins the decision not to protect the bones with barriers, preserving an “intimacy” with the deceased.
Visitors are reminded by signs not to touch anything and not to smoke within the ossuary. This recommendation also extends to the graffiti-covered galleries, which Knafou considers an integral part of the site’s identity. “The principle of a place like this, which is extremely fragile, is that you must not touch anything,” she warned.
A Challenging Project Led by Women
The renovation presented significant logistical challenges. Florent Bastaroli, a mason specializing in ancient buildings, was observed meticulously dismantling and reassembling a wall of bones, incorporating a new stone line at the base to counter humidity. His work, independent of the broader renovation, involves recreating elements like “crosses made of skulls,” a task he describes as “unusual” and one that often elicits interest or apprehension from others.
The ongoing work was evident with the sounds of drills and numerous electrical wires. Two large, electric orange wheelbarrows were specially designed for the project, addressing the “great difficulty of transporting and evacuating rubble 20 meters underground.” Most of the rubble is being kept on-site.
Camille Guérémy, manager of Artemis Architectes and in charge of the project, described it as a “fascinating project” with a “big challenge” to complete everything in just five months, all underground. Guérémy also highlighted the significant role of women in the project, noting, “In construction, we are often the only women,” before listing the names of the female leaders who contributed to what she termed a “women’s project.”
The reopening of the Catacombs is anticipated to draw renewed interest, offering both historical insight and a uniquely re-envisioned experience for visitors.
Source: https://www.france24.com/fr/culture/20260401-aux-catacombes-de-paris-une-nouvelle-balade-entre-les-morts-%C3%A0-partir-du-8-avril
