Père Lachaise Cemetery

Père Lachaise Cemetery
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Name	Père Lachaise Cemetery
Established	1804
Location	20th arrondissement, Paris
Country	France
Type	Public, non-denominational
Size	44 hectares (110 acres)
Graves	Over 1 million
Website	Official site

Père Lachaise Cemetery. Opened in 1804 by order of Napoleon Bonaparte, it is the largest and most visited necropolis within the city of Paris. Designed by the architect Alexandre-Théodore Brongniart, its initial reception was cool, but strategic transfers of famous remains, like those of Molière and Jean de La Fontaine, established its prestige. Today, it is a renowned open-air museum of funerary art and a final resting place for numerous celebrated figures from across Europe and beyond.

History

The cemetery was established on the site of a former Jesuit retreat, once overseen by Louis XIV's confessor, François de la Chaise. Its creation was part of Napoleon's decree to move all cemeteries outside the city limits due to public health concerns, a policy influenced by the infamous Cimetière des Innocents. The first burial, in 1804, was of a five-year-old girl named Adélaïde Paillard de Villeneuve. To boost its popularity, the Prefecture of Police orchestrated the reinterment of the bones of Molière and Jean de La Fontaine in 1817, followed by the legendary remains of Pierre Abélard and Héloïse d'Argenteuil. Its reputation was cemented after it became the site of the final fighting during the Paris Commune at the Mur des Fédérés in May 1871. Over the centuries, expansions have been necessary, with the cemetery growing from its original layout to its current substantial size.

Notable interments

The cemetery serves as the eternal home for a vast array of internationally renowned individuals. In the realm of music, it contains the tombs of Frédéric Chopin, Gioachino Rossini, Édith Piaf, and Jim Morrison of The Doors. Literary giants interred here include Honoré de Balzac, Marcel Proust, Oscar Wilde, and Gertrude Stein alongside Alice B. Toklas. Visual artists such as Eugène Delacroix, Amedeo Modigliani, Camille Pombour, and Max Ernst are buried within its grounds. Other notable figures span from the dancer Isadora Duncan and the mime Marcel Marceau to the scientist André-Marie Ampère, the philosopher Auguste Comte, and the actress Sarah Bernhardt. The cemetery also holds monuments to victims of World War I, World War II, and the Nazi concentration camps.

Layout and features

The cemetery's hilly 44 hectares are laid out in a picturesque English garden style, featuring winding paths, ancient trees, and a stunning collection of Gothic Revival, Art Nouveau, and modern mausolea. Key landmarks include the Mur des Fédérés, a memorial to the Communards; the Monument aux Morts by Albert Bartholomé; and the ornate Chapel of Père-Lachaise. The crematorium and columbarium, built in the late 19th century, were among the first in France. The site is divided into numerous divisions, with elaborate tombs for families like the Rothschild family and sculptures by artists including Antoine-Augustin Préault and Horace Daillion.

Cultural impact

As a major tourist destination, it has inspired countless works of art and literature, featuring in novels by Honoré de Balzac and films like François Truffaut's The 400 Blows. The grave of Jim Morrison became a site of pilgrimage and occasional controversy, leading to increased security. Annual events, such as the Day of the Dead, see significant visitation. Its atmospheric ambiance has made it a frequent subject for photographers like Eugène Atget and a setting in operas, including scenes from Giacomo Puccini's La bohème. The cemetery's aesthetic has influenced garden cemetery design worldwide, including Highgate Cemetery in London and Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn.

Administration and access

The cemetery is owned and managed by the City of Paris through its Department of Parks, Gardens and Green Spaces. It is open to the public daily, with hours varying by season. Access is primarily via the Philippe Auguste and Père Lachaise stations on the Paris Métro, as well as several RATP bus lines. Maintenance and conservation of the many historic monuments are ongoing challenges, managed by the city in collaboration with the Friends of Père Lachaise association. Rules governing visits, floral tributes, and photography are enforced to preserve the site's solemnity and heritage.

Category:Cemeteries in Paris Category:1804 establishments in France Category:Tourist attractions in Paris