Napoleon opened Père Lachaise in 1804 on the theory that a beautifully landscaped cemetery outside the crowded city center would attract Parisians who'd otherwise avoid burial there — and to help the sales pitch, the remains of Molière and La Fontaine were ceremonially reburied here early on. It worked: this is now one of the most visited cemeteries in the world, and one of the largest green spaces in Paris.
- Jim Morrison's grave draws a steady stream of visitors and is one of the most-asked-for directions at the entrance gate
- Édith Piaf, Oscar Wilde, Chopin, and Marcel Proust are all buried here, scattered across winding, hilly, cobblestone paths
- The cemetery functions as a genuine city park too — cats, birdsong, and quiet benches, not just graves
- Hours
- 8:00–18:00 (shorter in winter), free entry
- Price
- Free
- Tip
- Pick up a map at the entrance — this is a genuine 44-hectare maze and phone signal can be patchy among the mausoleums.
Nearby
- B Belleville · neighborhood
- P Place de la République · square
- C Canal Saint-Martin · neighborhood