Tomb of Molière, Tomb in Paris, France
The Tombe de Molière is a tomb monument in the Père-Lachaise cemetery in the 20th arrondissement of Paris, located in division 25 along the Chemin Molière. The pale stone monument is enclosed by a cast-iron fence decorated with theater masks, and stands directly next to the tomb of La Fontaine.
Molière died in Paris in 1673 and was initially denied a religious burial because he was an actor. His remains were exhumed in 1792 during the Revolution and transferred to the newly opened Père-Lachaise cemetery in 1817, where a monument was erected in his honor.
The tomb sits along the Chemin Molière in division 25, surrounded by a cast-iron fence decorated with comedy masks that directly reference his theatrical work. Visitors often pause there to read the inscriptions, and some leave flowers as a quiet gesture of respect for his writing.
The Père-Lachaise cemetery is easy to reach on foot from the main entrance on the Boulevard de Ménilmontant, and free maps are available at the gate to help with navigation. Going in the morning gives you more space to walk quietly through the paths before the crowds arrive.
It is still not certain that Molière's actual remains rest beneath the monument, since his body was moved several times after death and the trail went cold. Some historians believe his bones may have ended up in the Paris catacombs.
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