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Walk in the Père-Lachaise cemetery

Discovery of the Père-Lachaise cemetery in Paris

The Père-Lachaise cemetery is a very touristic place, many visitors walk through the alleys to discover the graves of famous people. As the cemetery is large, if you are looking for a specific grave it is better to have a map with you. Otherwise you can stroll through the alleys of the cemetery because it is designed like a park with many trees.

If you want more precise explanations a guided tour is preferable.

Here is a non-exhaustive list of the most famous personalities resting in the cemetery:

Morrison, Piaf, Salvador, Balzac, Chopin, Alain Bashung, Bécaud, Marie Trintignant, Modigliani, Héloïse et Abélard, Colette, Yves Montand and Simone Signoret, Proust, Apollinaire, Molière and La Fontaine, Alphonse Daudet, Pierre Desproges, Delacroix, Nerval, Géricault, Sarah Bernhardt...

Interest: good (1 user)
Difficulty:
Duration: 2 h.
Practical information

Géricault's tomb

On his tombstone is a reproduction of his most famous painting: The Raft of the Medusa.
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The tomb of Gilbert Bécaud

The French singer Gilbert Bécaud died in 2001 but he still has fans who come to put flowers on his grave.
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Marcel Proust's tomb

The grave of Marcel Proust, author of the famous work "In Search of Lost Time", is located in the Père-Lachaise cemetery. Modest and discreet, his grave is often visited by literature lovers from all over the world, who come to pay their respects to one of the greatest writers of the 20th century.
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The columbarium

The Père-Lachaise cemetery is not just a place to stroll around, it is also a place that is always active. Here you can see the columbarium (literally the pigeon niche) where the urns are stored. The photo shows the resting place of former Tour de France winner Laurent Fignon.
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The crematorium of Père-Lachaise

The crematorium is the oldest in France, its construction started in 1880. The Catholic Church has long been hostile to cremation. Genesis 3:19: "You are dust and to dust you shall return".
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Cemetery Lane

In addition to its historical and cultural importance, Père-Lachaise is also a haven of peace in the heart of the city. Its alleys lined with century-old trees, its flower-filled gardens and its magnificent sculptures make it a place conducive to meditation and contemplation.
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The tomb of Victor Noir

Victor Noir, a journalist, died at the age of 21, shot by a relative of Napoleon III. Nobody would remember him anymore but thanks to the sculptor who realized his tomb he passed to posterity. Indeed he is represented lying down after his death, his virile attributes rather highlighted. Many people come to pass their hand on the statue to find a certain sexual vigor...
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Tribute to the deportees

In this part of the cemetery, many monuments perpetuate the memory of the concentration camp deportees.
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The Federated Wall

The Père-Lachaise cemetery was the last place of resistance of the Paris Commune, the fights took place among the graves. After their defeat many communards were shot and buried in mass graves. This place has long been an emblematic place of the French left.
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Map of the cemetery

At the different entrances of the cemetery you can find maps where the most famous graves are listed.
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Funerary monuments

Strolling along the small paths, you can find some very nice grave markers.
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