 | Paris Cemeteries Reviews | 1 - 10 of 197 |  |
The Cemetary of Father Lachaise is the largest in Paris (109 acres) and one of the most famous in the world.
It is located on one of the seven hills of Paris, the Field-the-Bishop, and gets its name from Louis XIV's religious advisor, who previously owned the property.
In 1804, the city decided to turn the land into a cemetary.
Some of the most famous people buried here include authors Marcel Proust and Honore de Balzac, and singers Edith Piaf and JIM MORRISON (whose grave is one of the most visited).
Opening times: Daily 8 am -7 pm.
No admission charge.
A good map of the cemetery is available for a very small fee at the newsagent and flower shop on avenue Pere-Lachaise and at outlets near the main entrance on Bd. de Menilmontant.
NB It's best not to bypass the person selling the maps outside the walls of the cemetary, thinking you could find places on your own...big mistake!
There are signs inside, but you would have to memorize the locations.
And, as popular as Morrison's site is, it is sooooo hard to find.
Interesting bit on Wilde's grave:
"The sculpture on Oscar's headstone was carved by Epstein, an artist from England.
Before its official installation, the custodian of the cemetary, took exception to the uncovered figure and had part of it smothered under a kilo of plaster.
Naturally, the artist and his friends protested so the entire memorial was covered in a heavy tarpaulin until things were sorted out.
Later, after an organized protest, the cover was removed and a bronze plaque was fastened over the offending portion of the statue. But, not long after, a literary gentleman appeared in the Café Anglais wearing the plaque around his neck!
The tarpaulin was replaced, and stayed there until arguments about it were ironed out sometime after the last war." Leave a Comment Address: 16, rue de Repos, ParisPhone: 33-1-55-25-82-10Directions: In the 20th Arrondissement. Nearest metro train: Pere-Lachaise, Philippe Auguste
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I’d been looking fruitlessly for Edith Piaf in Père-Lachaise cemetery, but finally decided to look for other sites on my list as time was short. At that stage I met a young Taiwanese engineer who also was looking for the Mur des Fédérés. My French was marginally better, so after a few enquiries we found ourselves in front of the famous wall.
This marked the end of the 1871 uprising, where the last 147 battered Communard (NB not ~ist) fighters held out in the cemetery for some days against the government forces until they fought to a stop on 28 May: then were lined up against the wall, summarily shot, and dumped into a common grave. Yes, those are real bullet holes you see in the photo. We were there the day following the anniversary which still is commemorated, so there were flowers.
My new friend then helped me find Frederick Chopin (second photo) before we parted, each planning to seek places in Paris which the other of us already had visited. Time was running out on my visit, and further searching in the cemetery seemed too time consuming. So Molière, Oscar Wilde, Modigliani, Marshall Ney, former President Faure who expired while indulging in a “Clintonesque” activity in 1899, not to mention Jim Morrison and many others, will have to await further visits. Directions: Take Métro line 3 dir Gallieni, or line 2 dir Nation, to Père-Lachaise. The cemetery is directly across the road.
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The old Royal Abbey of St Denis has been for centuries the headlight of artistic, political and spiritual history. Its abbey-church, christened as a basilica from the origin, rises on the very site of a Gallo-roman cemeterry, burial place of Denis martyrized around 250. Place of memory linked its destiny to the monarchy as the privileged burial place of the royal dynasties. 42 kings, 32 queens, 63 princes and princess, 10 great men of the kingdom were laid here to rest.
In 1793, revolutionnaries attack the symbol of monarchy. The tombs are disurontled, some destroyed. Exhumed bodies are thrown into common graves. The Basilica escapes total destruction. In 1806, Napoleon I ordered the rehabilitation of the edifice. Then Louis XVIII handed back its necropolis function to the Abbey church.
Some of notables buried here:
French Queens - Blanche de Navarre, Anne de Bretagne, Isabell d'Aragon, Jeanne de Bourbon, Louise de Lorraine, Catherine de Medici and Marie Antionette.
French Kings - Pepin "the Short", Philippe VI, Louis XII, Philippe III, Charles V, Henry III, Henry II and Louis XVI. Leave a Comment Address: 2, rue de Strasbourg
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While Louis XV was taking care of his health, he promised that if he recovered, he would build a church to replace the half-ruined Abbey of St. Genevieve. Situated on the Montagne St-Genevieve, it had a commanding view of the city. The foundations were laid in 1758, but due to financial difficulties, it was completed in 1789. Revolutionaly government changed its mission from a church to a mausoleum for the remains of great Frenchmen.
This is finall resting place for:
Louis Braille - he invented the system of raised dots to enable blind people to read. Cell 25
Marie and Pierre Curie - great scientists. Cell 8
Victor Hugo - writer. Crypt XXIV
Emile Zola - writer. Crypt XXIV
Alexandre Dumas, Sr - writer. Crypt XXIV
Voltaire - philosopher
Jean-Jacques Rousseau - musician and philosopher. Leave a Comment Address: Place du Pantheon
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Its undoubtly Paris's most famous cemetery. Sitting on a wooded hill overlooking Paris. This place is so popular that it was expanded 6 times during the century.
Celebrities buried here includes
1) Edith Piaf ( famous for the famous La Vie En Rose , famous as the French Sparrow ...)
2) Oscar Wilde ( if you dont know who he is , try reading one of his book before you come to Paris , that way , the experience will be much more special )
3) Victor Noir ( whose statue brings fertility !! so you will notice that the most interesting part ( should I be specific ? ) looks extremely shining after being molested by thousands of curious tourist, horny ladies ( or perhaps guys ) and hopeful women...
4) Jim Morrison
5) Chopin , the great Polish composer
Its a big place , so make sure you get a map before you come in !!!!! Leave a Comment Address: Metro Line 11 , Pere Lachaise Station.
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The Montparnasse cemetery was created in 1824. It is different from some of the other famous Parisian cemeteries (Pere-Lachaise, Montmartre...) in that it is much more flat and straight (and thus easier to get around). The main entrance is located on boulevard Edgar-Quignet, and plans of the cemetery are available at the guarding post. There are several graves worth seeing in the cemetery, including that of French poet Charles Beaudelaire, who wrote "Les Fleurs du Mal" and who unfortunately got buried with his in-laws whom he detested, Irish playwright Samuel Beckett (Waiting for Godot), French singer Serge Gainsbourg, as well as Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir, whose tomb was covered with metro tickets for a reason which I have yet to figure out. But my favorite one of all was that of French inventor Charles Pigeon, who is represented lying in bed next to his dying wife.
Another interesting little fact about this cemetery is that the street that divides the small from the big cemetery (rue Emile-Richard) is the only street in Paris where no houses have been built and therefore it's the only street that doesn't have one single living resident.
And on a completely different note, if you haven't yet had the chance to try one of those old squat toilets (toilette turque), you can use the restrooms that are located next to the guarding post. One word of advice: watch your feet when you flush!! Leave a Comment Address: 3 boulevard Edgar-QuignetPhone: 01 44 10 86 50Directions: Metro Edgar Quignet, in the Montparnasse area
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This cemetery is full of famous dead people (or monuments to famous dead people), including Edith Piaf, Victor Noir, Frederic Chopin, Sarah Bernhardt, Simone Signoret, Yves Montand, Oscar Wilde and Marcel Proust. However perhaps the reason the most people go is to see the grave of Jim Morrison (of The Doors fame).
Jim Morrisons grave is decidely low-key, and seems to always have people around it.
Whilst in the cemetery, check out the grave of Victor Noir, a journalist who was shot by a cousin of Napoleon. If is a life size statue that is believed to have fertility powers - which is evident from the shiny groin which seems to receive a lot of rubbing...
If you visit. the first thing I would recommend you do before going in to this cemetery is to buy a map (which are sold near the entrances). It is a big place and if you are looking for a particular grave, you will stand little chance without one. Leave a Comment Address: Metro Pere Lachaise (16 Rue du Repos)
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A picnic and romantic stroll in a cemetary? Who woulda thunk???
As morbid as it sounds, it was actually quite a memorable outing in Paris. Throughout all my visits to this city, I had never been to Pere Lachaise Cemetary to pay my respects to some of my all-time favorites: Oscar (Wilde), Colette, Frederic (Chopin), Georges (Bizet), Eugene (Delacroix), Edith (Piaf), and of course our ol’ pal Jim (Morrison)….just to name a few.
It was a beautiful afternoon and we had just sat down at a Brasserie in Montmartre to have some lunch. Nothing on the menu really looked that appealing to both of us, so my brilliant partner came up with this wonderful (unconventional) idea of “dining with Jim!”
We grabbed some jambon et fromage along with some libations and headed for the cemetary.
The history behind the site was that Pere Francois de La Chaise was the “confessor of Louis XIV, and had lived in the Jesuit house on the site of the chapel. They say the area was a former cesspool full of windy streets and inhabited by shady thugs.
Once it was bought out for a cemetary, it soon became the symbol for where the rich and successful were buried.
There was such an eery sense of awe and wonderment as we went winding through the pathways here. Every other headstone you come across was of some great literary or artistic person you would be familiar with.
One of the most celebrated couples of all time are buried there: Abelard and Heloise.
If you close your eyes and stand very still, you may even be able to hear the echoes of their cries of passion for one another.
(Okay, I just made that last line up……but go there and let your imagination take you AWAY !!!)
Open daily: 8 am -7 pm.
No admission charge......but invest in a map! Leave a Comment Address: 6, rue du Repos 75020 - ParisDirections: Metro line 2 : Père Lachaise, Philippe Auguste
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For me, no trip is complete without a visit to the local cemetery. Although this is the third largest in Paris (next to Pere Lachaise and Montmarte), it is still impressive. It was established in 1824, covers 1800 acres, and is the resting place of Charles Baudelaire, Samuel Becket, Jean-Paul Sartre, Man Ray, and many other notable figures. Leave a Comment Address: 3 boulevard Edgar QuinetDirections: Metro (6) Edgar Quinet Metro (13) Gaite
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One of the most famous cemeteries in the world. It is located in the eastern arrondissement (civil district) 20. The property was bought by the city in 1804 and laid out by Brongniart, and later extended. At the time the cemetery opened, it was seen as too far from the city and attracted very few interments. As such, the administrators devised a marketing strategy and with great fanfare, organized the transfer of the remains of La Fontaine and Moliere, in 1804. This strategy resulted in a great many people clamoring to be buried with such famous citizens. At the entrance pick up maps for easier way of locating famous graves. Leave a Comment Address: Boulevard de Menilmontant - main entranceDirections: Metro line 2 : Pere Lachaise, Philippe Auguste
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