Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois Russian Cemetery, Russian Orthodox cemetery in Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois, France.
This cemetery is a burial ground in Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois featuring thousands of graves marked with Orthodox crosses, sculptures, and stone monuments. The graves display Russian inscriptions and range from modest markers to elaborate memorial designs that reflect individual histories and tastes.
The cemetery was founded in 1926 as a burial ground for Russian emigrants who had fled the Bolshevik Revolution and civil war. It developed into a memorial site for the Russian diaspora in France.
The chapel on the grounds displays traditional Orthodox architectural features with onion domes that reflect Russian religious building styles. Visitors can observe how the Russian Orthodox community has maintained its spiritual customs through the design of the space.
The cemetery is located in a southern suburb of Paris and is accessible by foot or public transportation. Visitors should dress respectfully and treat the grounds with care, as this is an active burial site.
The renowned dancer Rudolf Nureyev is buried here with an ornate mosaic on his grave that replicates a carpet design. Alongside him rest numerous Russian nobility, artists, and military officers, making this a memorial to an entire generation.
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