Cimetière du Calvaire, Cemetery in the 18th arrondissement of Paris, France
The Cimetière du Calvaire, also known as Saint-Pierre-du-Calvaire, is a small cemetery attached to the north side of the Saint-Pierre de Montmartre church. It covers about 600 square meters (6,458 square feet) and contains 85 tombs, enclosed by walls and a bronze door.
The cemetery was officially created in 1688 on land given by Marie-Anne d'Harcourt, abbess of Montmartre, on the site of an old Merovingian necropolis. It was closed during the Revolution, reopened in 1801, and closed again in 1823 due to lack of space.
The name comes from the calvary, a hill with a cross, in the garden next to the cemetery. On All Saints' Day, locals visit to honor their ancestors, keeping a tradition alive in this small space.
The cemetery is only open to the public on November 1, All Saints' Day. It is a small space, so visitors should be mindful of those who come to pay respects.
The cemetery sits on the highest natural point in Paris, at 130.53 meters (428 feet) above sea level. The bronze door at the entrance was made in 1980 by Italian sculptor Tommaso Gismondi, who also designed the doors of the neighboring church.
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