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Welcome to r/ParisCatacombs, a place where we can talk about what is commonly called, well, the "Paris catacombs". This place has a history that dates back long before the late 18th century, when authorities began transforming part of the old underground limestone quarries into an ossuary and transferring remains from overcrowded Parisian cemeteries.
As this is what they are originally, quarries. This is the very basis of understanding the deepest parts of underground Paris, yet it's something that isn't even common knowledge among many newbies.
As Paris grew bigger, the buildings started being built on top of these centuries-old quarries in the south of Paris, which led to collapses, and big chunks of Paris started sinking down into these voids.
In 1777, the IGC was created, an organisation that was meant to find and consolidate these old limestone exploitations, which led to the tunnels as they exist today, a vast network of inspection and surveillance galleries left among the consolidations.
Down there, everything is linked to the IGC.
The "catacombs" aspect is only a detail of the history of this place. There is much more *remblai* than there are bones.
And today, these places are often visited by weirdos like me.
As you probably know, going down there is an illegal activity, but cataphilia, as we call it, is a world full of art, history, secrecy, projects, trash, knowledge, and stupidity.
80% of people who go down underground have sexual problems. This is an important stat.
If you came here after seeing a cringe and sensationalist video by your favorite cringe and sensationalist youtuber, you probably have misconceptions about the history of the catacombs, and cataphilia as a whole, I can't blame you for that. But try to do some research about the basics. I've listed some interesting stuff in this thread.
Still, don't hesitate to share or ask questions if they're not completely stupid or breaking the rules. Do some basic research before asking..
This is a place where cataphiles can answer these questions, and sometimes share some stuff themselves, which can give a more accurate representation of how things are and work underground, which we often find positive. Although there are many diverging views about our world being online, whether it should even be there, whether we should be open about sharing things or not, what we should share or not share...
Overall this community aims to be an "in-between", where it's made absolutely clear that no one will help you get underground, no one will share maps, which are essential to getting by once you're down there (which you shouldn't), and requests for these things will be removed. But it's also a place where some people, cataphiles or not, can exchange about the things that are "shareable".
People will end up somewhere when they research cataphilia online, whether we like it or not, and the idea is that this should be the "least bad" place for people to end up.
Don't bother asking people you think you've identified as cataphiles via DM for things that are against the rules, nobody will help you.
No matter what, you should check out the official ossuary if you're a tourist in Paris. It is a unique place on Earth and the visit is expensive but very cool. You can find the platform to get the tickets here. There is very high demand for tickets to the ossuary, and they are sold through a weird system where you can only buy them a week in advance (at least at the time of this thread, September 2026), make sure you understand how that works to ensure you get a ticket.
There is also a thread pinned at the top of the subreddit, with more information about all of this, and it is the place to buy and resell second-hand tickets, although be aware that scams are common on Reddit, sometimes elaborate ones.
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A reminder that it's illegal and you're a very bad person if you go down there illegally. Don't go ! (╯°□°)╯︵ ┻━┻
Arrêté préfectoral du 2 novembre 1955
Art.1. Il est interdit à toute personne non munie d'une autorisation émanant de l'Inspection Générale des Carrières d'ouvrir les portes et trappes d'accès aux escaliers et puits à échelons ou autres des anciennes carrières, de descendre dans ces ouvrages, de pénétrer et de circuler dans les vides des anciennes carrières s'étendant sous l'emprise des voies publiques de la Ville de Paris.
Art.2. Les contraventions au présent arrêté seront constatées par procès verbaux des commissaires de police et autres officiers de police judiciaire et des agents de l'Inspection Générale des Carrières ayant qualité pour verbaliser. Elles seront déférées aux tribunaux compétents
Art.3. Le directeur de la police municipale et l'Ingénieur Général des Mines, Inspecteur Général des Carrières de la Seine sont chargés de l'exécution du présent arrêté qui sera inséré au recueil des actes administratifs et affiché dans Paris.
Fait à Paris, le 2 novembre 1955, Le Préfet de Police Dubois.
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In English :
Prefectural Order of 2 November 1955
Article 1. Any person who does not hold authorisation issued by the Inspection Générale des Carrières (General Inspectorate of Quarries) is prohibited from opening doors or access hatches leading to stairways, shafts fitted with ladders or steps, or other access points to the former quarries; from descending into such structures; and from entering or moving through the underground voids of the former quarries extending beneath the public thoroughfares of the City of Paris.
Article 2. Any violations of this Order shall be officially recorded by police commissioners and other judicial police officers, as well as by officers of the Inspection Générale des Carrières authorised to issue such reports. Violations shall be referred to the competent courts.
Article 3. The Director of the Municipal Police and the Chief Mining Engineer, General Inspector of the Quarries of the Seine, are responsible for the enforcement of this Order, which shall be published in the collection of administrative acts and posted throughout Paris.
Done in Paris, 2 November 1955. Dubois, Prefect of Police
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Some cool resources in English :
The Fight Between Cataphiles and Underground Police in the Paris Catacombs
A great article about the history, which has a clickbait and misleading title, for some reason
The Paris Catacombs are Deeply Misunderstood by Kaz Rowe
It has some common misconceptions but it's overall a good introduction to the history of the catacombs
FULL GUIDED TOUR Through THE CATACOMBS of PARIS!
A great recording of a guided tour, it's amazing that it even exists online. Although the guide actually does give some wrong info at some point !
A Three-Day Expedition To Walk Across Paris Entirely Underground
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Sadly, most of the cool ressources are in French. If you can find anything from Gilles Thomas that has been translated into English, that would be the holy grail.
These ressources all cover pretty much the basics. If you want to go deeper, you'll have to do your own research, which is an important part of cataphilia, even among ourselves. But also feel free to ask here, once you have some basic knowledge. We're also quite reluctant to share things, even between friends. Secrecy and gatekeeping are part of the culture, and not just toward outsiders.
