Père Lachaise Cemetery

Overview

Père Lachaise is the largest, most prestigious, and arguably most beautiful cemetery in Paris. Stretching across a hillside in the 20th arrondissement, it is a hauntingly romantic, 44-hectare park filled with winding cobblestone paths and spectacular funerary architecture.

Highlights

• Jim Morrison's Grave: The heavily visited, often flower-strewn resting place of The Doors' frontman.
• Oscar Wilde's Tomb: A striking, massive modernist sculpture of a flying sphinx, famously covered (historically) in lipstick kisses.
• The Architecture: Explore the wildly varied, miniature architectural masterpieces of the towering family mausoleums, especially along the central Avenue Principal.

History

Established by Napoleon in 1804 due to the massive health crisis caused by overflowing, unsanitary inner-city graveyards. Initially unpopular due to its distance from the center, administrators famously transferred the supposed remains of Molière and Héloïse and Abélard here, launching a massive marketing campaign that successfully turned it into the ultimate status-symbol burial ground for the Parisian elite.

Visitor Tips

• Navigation: The cemetery is massive and intentionally labyrinthine. Download a map to your phone or buy a printed guide at the entrance.
• Terrain: Wear comfortable shoes; the cobblestone paths are very steep and uneven.
• Duration: 2 hours of quiet exploration.