La Fontaine's tomb, Poet's grave in a cemetery in Paris, France
La Fontaine's tomb is located in Père-Lachaise Cemetery in the 20th arrondissement of Paris, one of the most visited burial grounds in Europe. The monument is modest in scale, set along one of the cemetery's winding tree-lined paths, close to other graves of French writers and artists.
La Fontaine died in 1695 and was first buried elsewhere in Paris. In 1817, his remains were moved to Père-Lachaise along with those of Molière, a decision made partly to draw more visitors to the cemetery, which was still relatively new at the time.
The tomb sits in a part of the cemetery that draws many visitors with an interest in French literature. People sometimes leave small tokens near the grave, a quiet way of acknowledging how La Fontaine's fables have stayed alive in French schools and everyday language for centuries.
The cemetery is open every day and entry is free. The paths can be uneven, so sturdy footwear is a good idea, and it is worth picking up a map at the entrance since the grounds are large and individual graves can be hard to find without one.
Although La Fontaine died in 1695, it took more than a century before Paris officially built a tomb for him. Some historians have noted that it cannot be confirmed with certainty that the remains held at Père-Lachaise actually belong to the poet, adding an unusual layer of mystery to the site.
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