Cimetière de la Villette, City cemetery in the 19th arrondissement of Paris, France
The cimetière de la Villette is a city cemetery in the 19th arrondissement of Paris, covering just over 2.5 acres (about 1 hectare) with around 2,500 burial plots. Maple, linden, and chestnut trees shade the rows of graves, which are connected by narrow paths.
The cemetery was created in 1828 and expanded in 1843 to meet the growing demand for burial space as Paris developed rapidly. It is now administratively linked to the Père-Lachaise but operates as a distinct neighborhood burial ground.
Some tombstones in the cemetery carry inscriptions that refer to the slaughterhouses once active in the neighborhood. The Camus family grave even bears a dedication from a butchers' union, honoring one of their own.
The cemetery is a short walk from the nearest Vélib' station and is close to several bus and metro stops. Some paths are narrow or slightly uneven, so visitors with reduced mobility should keep this in mind when planning their visit.
Although this cemetery falls under the administration of the Père-Lachaise, it draws almost no tourists and remains a place used almost entirely by local families. Reading the inscriptions reveals a history of trades and neighborhood professions that is rarely this visible in more visited Parisian burial grounds.
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