Paris sewers

The Paris sewer network is a vast tunnel system running beneath city streets that channels wastewater and rainwater away from buildings. It consists of interconnected pipes, channels, and collecting chambers arranged at different depths to manage flow throughout the area.

The first underground sewer sections appeared in the Middle Ages, but the network as it exists today took shape during a major reconstruction in the 1800s. That modernization transformed how the city managed water and waste, setting a standard for other cities to follow.

The sewer network shows how Paris tackled rapid growth in the 1800s by building an underground system to manage waste for its expanding population. You can see how this engineering solution became essential to city life and how locals came to rely on hidden infrastructure.

A museum near Pont de l'Alma lets visitors walk through sections of the actual tunnels and see how the system works in practice. Guided tours explain the flow of water and how workers maintain everything underground.

The tunnels were named after famous citizens and streets, making the underground system itself a hidden map of the city below. This naming system helped workers navigate while connecting the network to the city's history in an unexpected way.