The Monumental Cemeterys of Paris

"Every year, on November 2, there is the custom for the deceased to go to the Cemetery": So says a famous poem of the great Totó. In France, going to the cemetery on November 2 is perhaps not as common as in Italy. But it is certainly not necessary to wait for November and the holidays of Touissant to visit one of the monumental cemeteries of Paris, that at the cultural and artistic level are certainly not inferior to the most important museums of the city. In my opinion, in a monumental cemetery it is not necessary to see something dark and scary. Tombs and mausoleums are still sculptures of great artistic value, as well as an original way to pay homage to characters of the past. My favorites are three: the cemeteries of Montparnasse, Montmartre and of course Père Lachaise.

1. Cimière de Montparnasse

Montparnasse cemetery is located in the 14th arrondissement, in the south of the French capital. Its construction, as with the other monumental cemeteries of Paris, dates back to 1800 following theNapoleonic edict of Saint Cloud, which prohibited burials within the city walls. At one time, in fact, the current district of Montparnasse was already considered suburbs. Under Napoleon III, the Paris territory expanded and the area became part of Paris intramuros.

In addition to more than 30,000 graves, the Montparnasse cemetery includes 19 hectares rich in biodiversity, which make it one of the Paris' most important green spaces. Famous people include Serge Gainsburg, Jacques Chirac, writers Guy de Maupassant and Charles Baudelaire, author of Fleurs du mal. Newly deceased actress and singer Jane Birkin also found burial in Montparnasse. Find more information here: Cimetière du Montparnasse – Ville de Paris.

Where: 3, boulevard Edgar Quinet, 14th arrondissement.
Metro: Raspail, Edgar Quinet or Gaité (lines 4, 6 or 13).

2. Cimière de Montmartre

In addition to being one of the most beloved neighborhoods of Paris, Montmartre is also famous for one of the most visited monumental cemeteries in Paris.

Located right at the foot of Montmartre Hill, in the 18th arrondissement, the cemetery is located in the area of the ancient plaster quarries, material widely used in the capital. During the French Revolution, these quarries served as common pits for many Parisians who could no longer be brought into the cemeteries within the walls. Like Montparnasse, in 1800 Montmartre was later included in the city of Paris.

With its ten hectares and the alternation of mausoleums and tree-lined avenues, the Montmartre cemetery is a Parisian jewel not to be missed. Opening times may vary with the seasons, so I recommend to consult the official website before the visit. Cimetière de Montmartre – Ville de Paris. In addition to the iconic Dalida singer, we also find here the tombs of painter Edgar Degas, writer Stendhal and composer Hector Berlioz.

Where: 20, avenue Rachel, 18th arrondissement.
Metro: Blanche or Place de Clichy (lines 2 or 13).

3. Cimière du Père Lachaise

The Cemetery of Père Lachaise He does not need introductions, as his fame precedes him. With its average of 3 million visitors a year, it has nothing to envy to monuments such as the Louvre or the Eiffel Tower. In addition to being the largest cemetery in Paris, it is also the most visited cemetery in the world.

To what do we owe the name Père Lachaise?

The cemetery was designed by architect Alexandre-Théodore Brongniant, but the land on which it was built belonged to the Jesuit priest François d’Aix de La Chaise, Père Lachaise. Having been the first built cemetery extra wall, was not well seen by Parisians because of its location, in a poor and popular neighborhood. To overcome this initial skepticism, the authorities decided to host the remains of illustrious personalities, such as the favolista Jean de la Fontaine. Thanks to this initiative, more and more citizens were buried here, resulting in the extension of the cemetery. In 1830 it counted 33,000 tombs!

Today Père Lachaise has 44 hectares, more than 70000 tombs and an enviable variety of flora and fauna. Among the famous characters buried here, how not to mention Marcel Proust, Colette, Edith Piaf and Honoré de Balzac. The cemetery also houses international burials, including Oscar Wild, Amedeo Modigliani and of course Jim Morrison. In addition to the tombs, there are no memorials like that in honor of foreign soldiers who died for France during the great war. You can see opening times on the website Cimetière du Père-Lachaise – Ville de Paris.

Where: 16, rue du Repos, 20th arrondissement.
Metro: Père Lachaise (lines 2 and 3).

When you think of the word cemetery, you do not always see us a place of darkness, macabre and unreasonable. A visit to the magnificent monumental cemeteries in Paris could make you change your mind easily.