Montmartre Cemetery, Historical cemetery in 18th arrondissement of Paris, France
Montmartre Cemetery lies below street level in a former gypsum quarry in the 18th arrondissement of Paris and spans several hectares. The graves sit among hundreds of old trees and beneath a metal bridge that carries a street overhead.
The burial ground opened on January 1, 1825, as part of a plan to create cemeteries outside Paris city limits. The municipal authorities decided on this measure after burial grounds inside the walls became overcrowded during the 1780s.
Visitors often notice the graves of well-known artists like painter Edgar Degas and filmmaker François Truffaut among the pathways. Many burial sites are adorned with personal mementos and fresh flowers left by admirers.
Free maps are available at the entrance on Avenue Rachel, and the site sits below street level under Rue Caulaincourt. The paths between the tombstones are mostly level, though some sections have uneven paving.
The site uses limestone from the same quarries where it was built for many of its funerary monuments. This local stone gives the monuments a uniform pale color that weathers with age.
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