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Offered languages
- English
Discover the mysterious and darker side of Paris on this private walking tour exploring the history of the Paris Catacombs and underground Paris—without entering the Catacombs.
Led by a professional local guide, this experience focuses on the origins of the Catacombs, Paris’s underground tunnels, cemeteries, plagues, revolutions, and the hidden stories beneath the city streets. This tour is designed as a historical and cultural exploration, perfect if Catacombs tickets are sold out or if you want to understand the site before or after a visit.
This is a 100% private tour, created exclusively for you and your group.
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
Please meet our guide in front of the Pharmacy named (Pharmacie de la Place Denfert Rochereau). Please wait outside the door of the pharmacy and do NOT cross the street to the other side. Thanks
We end the tour near the Montparnasse Cemetery and the guide will leave there.
Itinerary
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The Paris Catacombs (Pass by)
Paris Catacombs Entrance (Exterior Only) Stand outside the official entrance of the Paris Catacombs and uncover the dramatic story behind one of the city’s most mysterious sites. Learn why millions of bones were moved underground, how the ossuary was created, and what makes the Catacombs so unique—explained clearly from the outside, without entering.
Admission ticket free -
1
Explore this historic square built above former underground quarries. Discover how this area became a key gateway to underground Paris and hear stories about its strategic importance during different periods of Parisian history, including World War II.
20 minutes • Admission ticket free -
2
Walk along the avenue named after a leader of the French Resistance. Learn how underground tunnels beneath Paris were used as secret command centers during World War II and how the city’s underground played a crucial role in its liberation.
15 minutes • Admission ticket free -
3
Stroll through one of Paris’s most famous cemeteries and discover the contrast between burial traditions above ground and the vast ossuaries below the city. See the graves of famous artists, writers, and thinkers while learning about Parisian funerary art and symbolism.
30 minutes • Admission ticket free -
4
Walk along Rue Froidevaux, a street directly connected to the Catacombs area. Hear stories about underground quarry networks, modern-day explorers known as “cataphiles,” and the hidden world that still exists beneath Paris’s streets.
15 minutes • Admission ticket free -
5
Conclude the tour in the Montparnasse area with a summary of Paris’s underground history, how the city manages its hidden spaces today, and general advice for exploring Paris responsibly.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free
Additional info
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- This tour does not include entry to the Paris Catacombs. All explanations take place outside the Catacombs and at nearby historical locations.
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Cancellation Policy
All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
Cancellation Policy
This experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If you cancel or ask for an amendment, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
You will not receive a refund if you cancel.
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