Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse – How to Open the Gate to the Catacombs

The Gate to the Catacombs stays sealed until you carry three keys to it, one earned from each of three bosses. You place the keys one at a time, and the door opens once the last one slots in. The on-screen objective while you gather them reads “UNLOCK THE GATE TO THE CATACOMBS”.

Quick answer: Beat The Fallen, Medusa, and Joan of Arc to collect three keys, then press R1 (INTERACT) at the gate in the Abandoned Sewers to place each one. The gate opens after the third.

Where the Gate to the Catacombs is

A sealed, towering stone doorway edged in glowing green stands in the southwest corner of the Abandoned Sewers, a sub-area of the Paris Streets map. The map identifies it as “GATE TO THE CATACOMBS”; approach it to see “GATE TO THE CATACOMBS / INTERACT [R1]”.

If you’re unsure where to head next, check the Abandoned Sewers map. Its upper-right corner displays the objective “UNLOCK THE GATE TO THE CATACOMBS”.

The three keys and the bosses that drop them

Each key shares the same item line, “One of three keys needed to open the sealed door to the Catacombs.” followed by the boss you defeat to earn it. The three gems are different colors, which makes it easy to tell at a glance how many of the slots on the door you have filled.

Key	Boss	Gem color
The Fallen’s Key	THE FALLEN	Purple
The Prophetess’s Key	MEDUSA	Green-blue
The Warrior’s Key	JOAN OF ARC	Orange

The Fallen’s Key

The Fallen is the first boss, waiting in the flooded chamber under the Paris sewers. Defeat it to receive The Fallen’s Key, a purple gem whose text reads “Obtained by defeating THE FALLEN.” Carrying it to the gate and placing it brings up the banner “NEW OBJECTIVE / UNLOCK THE GATE TO THE CATACOMBS”, and the Warrior and Prophetess cards are revealed. For help with the fight, see the guide to beating The Fallen.

The Prophetess’s Key

Medusa is fought in the Serpents’ Lair, reached through the Ancient Sewers. The mirror at Holy Innocents’ Cemetery takes you to the Ancient Sewers. Beating her earns The Prophetess’s Key, a green-blue gem with the line “Obtained by defeating MEDUSA.” Placing it at the gate lights part of the seal, and The Fallen says one more key remains. The guide to beating Medusa covers the fight.

The Warrior’s Key

Joan of Arc is fought on the Rooftop of Paris, at the Stairs to the Tower Roof. Defeat her for The Warrior’s Key, an orange gem with the line “Obtained by defeating JOAN OF ARC.” After this boss, the objective line on the map changes to “GET TO THE GATE OF THE CATACOMBS”. The guide to beating Joan of Arc walks through both fights.

Place the keys and open the gate

After defeating a boss, head back to the gate in the southwest corner of the Abandoned Sewers. Approach until “INTERACT [R1]” appears, then press R1 (INTERACT) to insert the key you’re carrying.

Gate to the Catacombs prompt — The character stands before the Gate to the Catacombs with an Interact prompt. Shown at 100:52 in Shirrako’s video. Image: KONAMI

Each key you place lights another part of the seal, and you can see the gems appear on the door, purple, then green-blue, then orange.

Insert the third key to set the final gem in place and open the gate. The R1 prompt lets you enter the Catacombs of Paris.

Gate opens — Once the third key is in, the gate opens and the path down to the Catacombs appears. Shown at 136:39 in Shirrako’s video. Image: KONAMI

Confirming the gate is open

Beyond the open gate, you enter the Catacomb Entrance, the first room in the Catacombs of Paris. Stepping inside updates the map objective to “STOP THE RESURRECTION OF DRACULA”, confirming you have passed through the gate and opened the Catacombs.