Père Lachaise Cemetery

When it opened in 1804, the Parisians disapproved of this cemetery. It was in a time when bodies were often dumped in graves in large, mass quantities. The government of Louis XVIII attempted to draw attention to it in 1817 by transferring the remains of the lovers Abelard and Heloise (XII century), along with Molière and poet Jean de La Fontaine to the site. It was only after Balzac put Père Lachaise in an important scene in his 1835 novel 'Le Pere Goriot' did the cemetery became a fashionable place to buy a plot. The author's remains are now resting in the cemetery as well. Memorials of all shapes and sizes reflect the cultural diversity of the cemetery.

I know it seems strange to make a tourist stop at a cemetery…but this cemetery is an oasis of peace and quiet in the center of the city,though it is a bit odd to go meandering among tombstones and occasionally cross with other tourists.

Some graves are tourist attractions in and of themselves: Jim Morrison, Frederic Chopin, Edith Piaf, or the occultist Alan Kardec, whose tomb recalls some bizarre rite for those not familiar with the occult arts.

Some of the sculptures are wonderful, but I feel that it’d be best to visit with a trained guide who can show you the most interesting tombs and explain the history of those aristocrats, Freemasons, and merchants whose graves hide a secret symbolism hidden from the untrained eye.

This cemetery opened in 1804 and is the most-visited in the world. Its 7000 ornamental (and even ostentatious) tombs of the rich and famous form a sort of sculpture garden. Among the millions buried there, you’ll find names like Chopin, Moliere, Apollinaire, Wilde, Balzac, and Edith Piaf,

I’ll admit, I was excited to see the final resting places of so many illustrious people, but I felt a bit sad when I left. It took a little while to recover my habitual good humor. Perhaps I was thinking about all the glory, talent, and fame that has left this world….

Paris is a city full of surprising places and one of my favorites is the Pere-Lachaise Cemetery. I love taking walks through the cemetery and admiring the beauty of the sculptures and mausoleums. The peacefulness is palpable in every little corner of the cemetery and you even forget the place’s true purpose. It’s like being in a park full of art. If you get a map when you enter, you can visit the tombs of famous celebrities, musicians, and artists.