Paris, France

Summary of Pere-Lachaise Cemetery (Cimetiere du Pere-Lachaise)

photo by Loricat

Pere-Lachaise Cemetery (Cimetiere du Pere-Lachaise)

16 rue du Repos
Paris, France
(01) 5525 8210

Paris’s most famous cemetery gets the name from Louis XIV’s religious advisor, who previously owned the property. In 1804, the city decided to turn the land into a cemetery. Famous people buried here include authors Marcel Proust, Oscar Wilde and Honoré de Balzac, and singers Edith Piaf and Jim Morrison (whose grave is one of the most visited). Among the many 19th-century sculptures and monuments is the Mur des Fédérés, which was placed in memory of the 147 rebels shot here on May 28, 1871, during the Paris Commune. Admission is free.

Reviews

A nice walk

Reviewed by m8888888 on February 13, 2007

m8888888's rating:

"If you go in January, like I did, there probably won’t be another living soul in the place (hahaha!). Okay, there were a few people, but it was really uncrowded. I still couldn’t find any of the famous graves, though! This place is big! But it is a peaceful place, and it’s fascinating to see the old graves. So if you like cemeteries (it’s not as morbid as it sounds!), this is probably heaven for you (and hopefully for the people buried there!)."

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The City of the Dead

Reviewed by Loricat on December 19, 2006

Loricat's rating:

"The best way to (ahem!) kill a morning in Paris. Go early, before it gets busy, buy a map in a shop outside, but be prepared to just get lost. Beautiful avenues of trees, broad roads or quiet paths, beautiful sculptures, and fascinating tombs. Many treasures here besides the nondescript gravestone for Jim Morrison. Check out the romantic tomb for Abelard & Heloise, 12thC star-crossed lovers. Or the much-visited tomb of spiritualist Alain Kardec. Colette. Chopin. And the life-size sleeping statue of Victor Noir. On a side note, their website is one of the best interactive tours I’ve ever seen. If you can’t go to the cemetery in person, see it on the web!"

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