Atuona Cemetery, Cemetery and tourist attraction in Hiva Oa, French Polynesia.
The cemetery sits on a hillside, featuring graves arranged in tiers with views extending over Atuona village and Taaroa Bay.
Post-impressionist painter Paul Gauguin, who died in 1903, and Belgian singer Jacques Brel, who passed in 1978, rest within this cemetery.
Visitors regularly place shell necklaces and fresh flowers at the graves, following Polynesian traditions of honoring the deceased.
The cemetery opens daily from 8:00 AM until sunset, with free admission and directional signs leading from the local gendarmerie.
A replica of Gauguin's Oviri statue marks his tomb, while a large basaltic stone with an engraved plaque identifies Brel's resting place.
Location: Hiva Oa
Address: 5XX6+QJX, Hiva Oa, French Polynesia Hiva Oa Hiva Oa
GPS coordinates: -9.80052,-139.03839
Latest update: March 3, 2025 14:56
The Marquesas Islands are characterized by volcanic formations that shape landscapes marked by rocky peaks, ancient calderas, and basalt cliffs. Deep bays like those of Taiohae or the Virgins cut through the coasts, while black sand beaches reflect the archipelago's geological origins. The island interior reveals valleys, waterfalls, and reliefs reaching up to 1200 meters in altitude. Marquesian cultural heritage is evident through preserved archaeological sites in the Taipivai valley, where ceremonial platforms and petroglyphs carved into rock still exist. The Puamau tiki statues, carved from volcanic stone, are among the largest Polynesian sculptures. Museums in Atuona and Ua Huka hold collections that document traditional life, while the Gauguin Cultural Center and the Jacques Brel Space trace the careers of these two artists who spent their final days in the archipelago. The Taiohae Cathedral blends European architecture with local sculpted motifs, illustrating the cultural exchanges that have shaped the islands' history.
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