Carrières des Capucins, Medieval limestone quarry in 5th and 13th arrondissements of Paris, France

Carrières des Capucins is an ecomuseum formed by former limestone quarries worked between the 12th and 17th centuries, running about 1.2 kilometres of galleries 18 metres below the surface. The underground route lies beneath Cochin Hospital, part of Boulevard de Port-Royal and rue de la Santé, across the 5th, 13th and 14th arrondissements. Its walls show every type of consolidation used under Paris from the late 18th century to the 1940s.

The Capucins quarries were worked for building limestone from the 12th to the 17th century, beneath what are now the 5th, 13th and 14th arrondissements. The SEHDACS association, founded in the late 1970s by Alain Clément, obtained the protection of the Fontaine des Capucins sector and neighbouring galleries. Its successor, the SEADACC, now maintains the site under an agreement with the city of Paris.

The site is run as an ecomuseum by the SEADACC, a non-profit society working under an agreement with the city of Paris. It descends from the SEHDACS, founded in the late 1970s by Alain Clément, which secured the protection of the Fontaine des Capucins sector and neighbouring galleries. Guided tours are led by the association's volunteers.

Access requires advance registration for guided tours accommodating groups of around 15 people. The descent involves about 200 steps, and underground temperature stays around 13 degrees Celsius, so a jacket is recommended.

The association SEADACC, heir to the SEHDACS founded in the late 1970s by Alain Clément, obtained the protection of the Fontaine des Capucins sector and neighbouring galleries. The site is run under an agreement with the City of Paris, and the visit route gathers every type of consolidation carried out under Paris from the late 18th century to the 1940s.