catacombes de paris - urban exploration - 102 photos
Photos by Tristan Savatier
Catacombs of Paris (Catacombes de Paris), about 20 meters (60 feet) underground, under Paris city center.
This is a part of the 200 Km (130 Miles) network of ancient tunnels not opened to the public, but regularly visited by trespassing urban cavers called "cataphiles".
This is one of my favorite playgrounds, but it's also a dangerous and forbidden place where you can easily get lost.
You can look at several interresting videos of the Catacombs here (videos are in french).
Read this excellent article (in english) on National Geographic about this amazing off-limit underground world.
Those interconnected caves and tunnels are the remnent of antique limestone quarries were the stone was extracted to build the houses of Paris. Part of them are now used to store human bones moved from various old cemeteries around 1790, hence the (incorrect) name "Catacombs".
Only a small section of the Catacombs, called the Ossuary, is opened to the public near Place Denfer-Rochereau in the 14th arrondissement of Paris. Visitors can see the the bones of about 6 millions people filling up large underground chambers. See Les Catacombes de Paris (official website) for more info.
Salle Z - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Salle Z - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Trou De Service De Mme La Reine - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Trou De Service De Mme La Reine - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Pilier À Bras - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Pilier À Bras - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Graffiti Dans l'Abri Laval (Feuillantines) - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Graffiti Dans l'Abri Laval (Feuillantines) - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Graffiti Dans l'Abri Laval (Feuillantines) - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Graffiti Dans l'Abri Laval (Feuillantines) - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Graffiti Dans l'Abri Laval (Feuillantine) - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Graffiti Dans l'Abri Laval (Feuillantine) - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Graffiti Dans l'Abri Laval (Feuillantines) - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Graffiti Dans l'Abri Laval (Feuillantines) - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Pilier À Bras - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Pilier À Bras - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Cataphile - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Cataphile - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Skull Sculpture - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Skull Sculpture - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Bacchus - Cataphile - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Bacchus - Cataphile - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Etched Stone Plates - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Etched Stone Plates - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Etched Stone Plate - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Etched Stone Plate - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Fresque Du Dragon - Baptême Des Promotions De l'École Des Mines De Paris - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Fresque Du Dragon - Baptême Des Promotions De l'École Des Mines De Paris - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
M.C. Escher Stairs - Fresques De Baptême Des Promotions De l'École Des Mines De Paris - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
M.C. Escher Stairs - Fresques De Baptême Des Promotions De l'École Des Mines De Paris - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Fresques De Baptême Des Promotions De l'École Des Mines De Paris - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Fresques De Baptême Des Promotions De l'École Des Mines De Paris - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Fresques De Baptême Des Promotions De l'École Des Mines De Paris - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Fresques De Baptême Des Promotions De l'École Des Mines De Paris - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Fresques De Baptême Des Promotions De l'École Des Mines De Paris - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Fresques De Baptême Des Promotions De l'École Des Mines De Paris - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Fresques De Baptême Des Promotions De l'École Des Mines De Paris - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Fresques De Baptême Des Promotions De l'École Des Mines De Paris - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area) - Bottom of an Access Shaft
Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area) - Bottom of an Access Shaft
Stone Carving - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area) - Bar Des Rats
Stone Carving - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area) - Bar Des Rats
Muddy Hands - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area) - Juju - Julie
Muddy Hands - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area) - Juju - Julie
Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area) - Fabienne and Mixed Lights - Blue LED Light
Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area) - Fabienne and Mixed Lights - Blue LED Light
Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area) - Bar De Rats - Rocco
Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area) - Bar De Rats - Rocco
Graffiti - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area) - Bar Des Rats
Graffiti - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area) - Bar Des Rats
Graffiti - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area) - Bar Des Rats
Graffiti - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area) - Bar Des Rats
Hokusai's Giant Wave Graffiti - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area) - Bar Des Rats
Hokusai's Giant Wave Graffiti - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area) - Bar Des Rats
Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area) - Bar Des Rats - Julie and Fabienne Cleaning-up a Water Well
Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area) - Bar Des Rats - Julie and Fabienne Cleaning-up a Water Well
Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area) - Bar Des Rats
Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area) - Bar Des Rats
Carved Plate Indicating Road Name - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Carved Plate Indicating Road Name - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Alyssa - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Alyssa - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Alyssa, Gaëlle and Coraline - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Alyssa, Gaëlle and Coraline - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Alyssa, Gaëlle and Coraline - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Alyssa, Gaëlle and Coraline - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Alyssa, Gaëlle and Coraline - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Alyssa, Gaëlle and Coraline - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Alyssa, Gaëlle and Coraline - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Alyssa, Gaëlle and Coraline - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Alyssa, Gaëlle and Coraline - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Alyssa, Gaëlle and Coraline - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Alyssa and Gaëlle - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Alyssa and Gaëlle - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Alyssa Is the Devil - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Alyssa Is the Devil - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Wax Play - Woman Holding Burning Candles with Dripping Wax
Wax Play - Woman Holding Burning Candles with Dripping Wax
Wax Play - Woman Holding Dripping Candles
Wax Play - Woman Holding Dripping Candles
Alyssa Is the Devil - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area) - Candles
Alyssa Is the Devil - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area) - Candles
Alyssa Is the Devil - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Alyssa Is the Devil - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Alyssa Is the Devil - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area) - Candles
Alyssa Is the Devil - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area) - Candles
Alyssa - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area) - Candles
Alyssa - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area) - Candles
Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area) - Alyssa and Coraline
Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area) - Alyssa and Coraline
Alyssa - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Alyssa - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Alyssa - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Alyssa - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Alyssa - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Alyssa - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Cataphile in Candle-lit Cave - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Cataphile in Candle-lit Cave - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Alyssa - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Alyssa - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Alyssa - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Alyssa - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Alyssa with Video Camera - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Alyssa with Video Camera - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Alyssa with Video Camera - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Alyssa with Video Camera - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Alyssa with Video Camera - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Alyssa with Video Camera - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Gaëlle and Alyssa - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Gaëlle and Alyssa - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Gaëlle and Alyssa - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Gaëlle and Alyssa - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Gaëlle and Alyssa - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Gaëlle and Alyssa - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
No Playing with the Bones! - Real Human Skull - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
No Playing with the Bones! - Real Human Skull - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Urban Caver Playing with a Real Human Skull - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Urban Caver Playing with a Real Human Skull - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Human Skull - Catacombes De Paris
Human Skull - Catacombes De Paris
Municipalité Du XII-eme Arrondissement - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Municipalité Du XII-eme Arrondissement - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Carved Plate - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Carved Plate - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Cabinet Minéralogique - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Cabinet Minéralogique - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Le Cabinet Minéralogique - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Le Cabinet Minéralogique - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Cabinet Minéralogique - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Cabinet Minéralogique - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Consolidations under the Val-de-Grâce Hospital - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Consolidations under the Val-de-Grâce Hospital - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Vaults - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Vaults - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Plaque Hauteur De l'Escalier Mansart - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Plaque Hauteur De l'Escalier Mansart - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Labyrinthe Du Val-de-Grâce - Cataphiles (Urban Cavers) Lost in the "Maze" under the Val-de-Grâce Hospital - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Labyrinthe Du Val-de-Grâce - Cataphiles (Urban Cavers) Lost in the "Maze" under the Val-de-Grâce Hospital - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Graffiti under the Val-de-Grâce Hospital - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Graffiti under the Val-de-Grâce Hospital - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area) - Salle Z
Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area) - Salle Z
Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Cataphiles (Urban Cavers) in Underground Tunnel - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Cataphiles (Urban Cavers) in Underground Tunnel - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Catacombes De Paris - Renegade Party in the Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Catacombes De Paris - Renegade Party in the Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area) - Breaking Walls - Calamity & Olrik
Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area) - Breaking Walls - Calamity & Olrik
Urban Caver Olrik Writing on Concrete Wall of a Utility Tunnel with a Carbide Lamp (Paris)
Urban Caver Olrik Writing on Concrete Wall of a Utility Tunnel with a Carbide Lamp (Paris)
Julie - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Julie - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Caver - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area) - BHV in One of the Ossuaries
Caver - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area) - BHV in One of the Ossuaries
Catacombes De Paris - Renegade Party in the Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Catacombes De Paris - Renegade Party in the Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Party - Catacombes De Paris - Renegade Party in the Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Party - Catacombes De Paris - Renegade Party in the Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Party - Catacombes De Paris - Renegade Party in the Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Party - Catacombes De Paris - Renegade Party in the Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Party - Catacombes De Paris - Renegade Party in the Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Party - Catacombes De Paris - Renegade Party in the Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Carved Plate - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Carved Plate - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Mucha-style Graffiti Painting on Door, near the FFI Shelter - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Mucha-style Graffiti Painting on Door, near the FFI Shelter - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Candels - Chandelier - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Candels - Chandelier - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Gargoyle - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Gargoyle - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Gargoyle - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area) - BHV
Gargoyle - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area) - BHV
Stone Castle - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Stone Castle - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Rue Des Catacombes - Carved Plate - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Rue Des Catacombes - Carved Plate - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Cavers - Catacombes De Paris - Renegade Party in the Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Cavers - Catacombes De Paris - Renegade Party in the Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Manhole Cover - Shaft - Ladder - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Manhole Cover - Shaft - Ladder - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Smoked-in Gallery - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Smoked-in Gallery - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Stone Vaults - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris
Stone Vaults - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris
Rue De La Tombe Issoire (Aka Rue St Jacques) - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Rue De La Tombe Issoire (Aka Rue St Jacques) - Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area)
Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area) - G.O. (Gestapo Des Ondes)
Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area) - G.O. (Gestapo Des Ondes)
Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area) - La Plage
Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area) - La Plage
Urban Explorer with Head Lights - Libby - Urbex (Paris)
Urban Explorer with Head Lights - Libby - Urbex (Paris)
Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area) - 1786 - Caroline Dagneau
Catacombes De Paris - Catacombs of Paris (Off-limit Area) - 1786 - Caroline Dagneau