Old Cemetery of Charenton, Old cemetery in Paris, France
The Cimetière Ancien de Charenton is an old cemetery in the southeastern part of Paris, near the Bois de Vincennes. Narrow paths run between modest gravestones, some weathered and moss-covered, while others carry small sculptures or fresh flowers.
The cemetery was established in the early 19th century, replacing earlier burial grounds in Charenton. In 1848, the original site was almost entirely demolished to make way for a railway line, and a new plot near the Bois de Vincennes was purchased in its place.
The cemetery is sometimes called the Cimetière de Conflans, after the old neighborhood where it once stood. Some graves carry bronze reliefs and busts, including a portrait of a soldier and a bust of a former mayor of Charenton.
The cemetery is easy to reach on foot or by public transport, as it sits close to the Bois de Vincennes. Some sections may be temporarily closed due to ongoing maintenance, so it is worth checking ahead before visiting.
Among those buried here is Erwine Boudry, a World War II aviator whose grave was funded by a community collection after his plane was shot down over the Netherlands. The painter and caricaturist Zyg Brunner, a Polish-born artist who worked in Montmartre, also rests here.
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