Père Lachaise Cemetery, Cemetery in the 20th arrondissement, Paris, France
Père Lachaise is a public cemetery in the 20th arrondissement of Paris that stretches across roughly 44 hectares and was designed as a garden park. Winding paths run through the grounds among old trees, small chapels, and numerous tombs from different periods and styles.
Napoleon founded the cemetery in 1804 and commissioned architect Alexandre-Théodore Brongniart to design it as the first burial ground of this type in Paris. Initially, few Parisians wished to be buried here, but from 1817 onward the remains of famous figures were transferred here, which raised its appeal.
Many people come here to pause at the graves of writers and musicians, often leaving flowers or personal tokens. The resting place of Jim Morrison draws younger visitors who light candles and leave messages on nearby stones.
You enter the grounds through several gates, with the main access on Boulevard de Ménilmontant offering maps showing important graves. The paths can be uneven and slope upward in places, so sturdy footwear helps for longer visits.
The Mur des Fédérés marks where 147 Communards were shot in May 1871 and buried in common graves; it remains a rallying point for the French political Left. The cemetery also holds the first crematorium built in France, where the first cremation took place on 30 January 1889.
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