The Catacombes inaugurate their new exhibition space with an exclusive show dedicated to the French photographer Nadar. The artist is renowned for his portraits, but also for photographing Paris from every conceivable angle, capturing the capital as it appeared in the second half of the 19th century.
From September 29, 2026 to January 31, 2027, the Catacombs will present the exhibition Nadar: Inventing Paris, from the Depths to the Sky. The renowned ossuary brings together a selection of key photographs from the artist's body of work.
Nadar produced a string of iconic portraits, including Victor Hugo, Sarah Bernhardt, and Charles Baudelaire... Beyond being a celebrated artist, Nadar was also... an inventor! He secured major patents for aerial photography and for electric lighting used in photography. These innovations enabled him to capture Paris from the skies and to photograph dark, subterranean spaces such as... The Catacombes.
In the 1860s, the Catacombs undergo a transformation: several Parisian cemeteries transfer their dead to the Parisian ossuary for public health reasons. It’s a grand operation that Nadar immortalizes with his camera. At the time, although the site was occasionally open to visitors, few could claim to have truly seen these catacombs. Nadar’s photographs help bring the ossuary to light by offering a faithful glimpse into this mysterious underground world.
The exhibition lets us discover some of these historical photographs. The route features about fifteen items, including photographic prints by Nadar, reproductions of patents, drawings, caricatures, advertisements... An underground Paris and a Paris seen from the sky: discover the capital through the eye of this innovative artist.
Dates and Opening Time
From September 29, 2026 to January 31, 2027
Location
Catacombs
1, place Denfert-Rochereau
75014 Paris 14
Official website
www.catacombes.paris.fr
