Montparnasse Cemetery, Cemetery in the 14th arrondissement, Paris, France
The cimetière du Montparnasse is a burial ground in the 14th arrondissement of Paris, covering around 19 hectares. Its paths run beneath rows of linden trees, maples and conifers, and the grounds are divided into 30 sections, some of which are reserved for specific communities.
The cemetery was established in 1824 on land that had belonged to three farms and several flour mills, after Paris needed new burial grounds outside its old city limits. In 1890, a new street was cut through the site, which changed the layout of the pathways and divided parts of the grounds.
Many visitors come with a map in hand, searching for the graves of writers, artists and thinkers who shaped Parisian intellectual life. On some tombs, like that of Marguerite Duras, visitors leave pens as a tribute, showing how personal the connection to these figures remains today.
The main entrance is near the Edgar Quinet Metro station, and maps are available at the entrance to help find specific graves. Opening hours change by season, so it is worth checking before you go.
A windmill from the 17th century still stands on the grounds, a remnant of the time when this land was used for farming and milling. In the 19th century, the site was also the scene of a dark episode: a man was arrested after years of digging up and mutilating bodies, a case that shocked public opinion at the time.
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