Crypte archéologique de l’Île de la Cité Paris on a city game

The Crypte archéologique is a museum under the square in front of Notre-Dame Cathedral. It shows remains found during excavations on the Île de la Cité, from the Gallo-Roman town of Lutetia to medieval foundations and later buildings.

Walking through it, you see old walls, traces of an ancient quay and the outlines of streets and houses that once filled the island. It helps you understand how much of Paris lies under your feet. If you want to go inside, check the museum's own information for the latest visiting details before you plan your day.

Secrets of Paris, the route where you help Victor Hugo recover the lost final chapter of The Hunchback of Notre-Dame, passes the Crypte archéologique de l’Île de la Cité.

You start at Notre-Dame Cathedral, cross to Square René Viviani on the Left Bank and come back to the island past the crypt. The route then continues to the Conciergerie and Square du Vert-Galant at the tip of the island. On the way you solve puzzles and photo tasks in the browser on your own phone, with no app needed.

The Crypte archéologique de l’Île de la Cité Paris is easy to miss, because most of it lies underground. A city game points you to it and puts it in the middle of a story about the island and its past.

You play self-guided, at your own pace. Stop, look around, talk through a puzzle and continue when your team is ready. It suits friends, couples, families and colleagues who want to explore the Île de la Cité together.

Secrets of Paris costs €19.95 per team: one phone, at most 4 players. Plan 1.5–2 hours for the full route around the Île de la Cité.

Book online, walk to Notre-Dame Cathedral and open the game in your phone's browser. You can start whenever you like, and the crypt follows a short walk after the first stops. Choose one person to hold the phone and read out the clues, while the rest of the team watches the streets, the river and the buildings for answers.