Pere Lachaise Paris Cemetery
A briefing for the first time visitor wanting to visit Pere Lachaise And Other Paris Cemeteries
 |
| Pere Lachaise Paris Cemetery |
Pere Lachaise Paris Cemetery
Pere Lachaise is an offbeat place to visit, in the eastern suburbs of Paris, making a pleasant interlude to the museums and monuments of tourist trail Paris.
Most people wouldn't include a cemetery on their list of things to do when visiting a new city, but Paris' Pere LaChaise is different. Some of the most expensive and coveted grave real estate in the world, Pere Lachaise is home to 70,000 dead, including some of the most famous artists, writers and musicians the world has ever known.
Today you are struck by the fact that many of the rich and famous have some of the most humble graves. None more than Jim Morrisson the American pop star who for English speaking visitors is probably the most familiar name buried here along with Oscar Wilde.
The architecture and many of the inscriptions make for a pleasant hour or two pottering around, away from the noise of the city.
Detailed maps are available for the independent visitor at the main entrance gates and flower shop.
A much more informative visit can be gained by taking a short walking tour with a knowledgeable guide for a couple hours then revisiting places if required afterwards.
 |
 |
|---|
| Places Of Interest |
| Sightseeing Passes |
| Museums & Art Galeries |
| Cathedrals & Churches |
| Louvre Museum |
| Eiffel Tower |
| Versailles |
| Landmarks & Curiosities |
| Shopping & Markets |
| Moulin Rouge |
| Cemeteries |
| Getting Around Paris |
| Public Transport |
| Hop-on/off Buses & Boats |
| Formal Tours of Paris |
| Day Tours From Paris |
| Versailles |
| Disneyland |
| Champagne / Loire |
| London |
 |
 |
| Pere Lachaise Paris Cemetery |
Getting To Pere Lachaise Paris Cemetery
Catch the Metro to stop: Philippe Auguste, Pere Lachaise or Gambetta or catch bus: 26, 61 or 69.
The cemetery has four entrances, two of them on Blvd de Menilmontant. Newsstands and kiosks in the area sell a detailed map.
Pere Lachaise Paris Cemetery Walking Tour
On your guided meander through this romantic labyrinth of stones, trees and paths, your guide will point out the famous graves and hidden eccentricities that make this famous cemetery so special.
The approximately 2 hour tour departs from outside the Alexandre Dumas metro station (metro line 2) at 3 pm.
Other Paris Cemeteries
There are a few large cemeteries close to visitor attractions in Paris that only take a small detour ...
The Montmartre Cemetery is signposted off the Boulevard de Clichy, near Blanche Metro (line 2). Close to Montmartre and the Moulin Rouge.
The Montparnasse Cemetery is just west of Denfert Rochereau RER/Metro station where the Paris Catacombs are situated.
The Poissy Cemetery is on the west of the Trocadero road junction and Metro opposite the Palais Chaillot above the Eiffel Tower.
Paris Catacombs
 |
The Paris catacombs were originally limestone quarries, mined for the construction of Paris' most famous buildings and bridges.
From the late 1700s the quarries were used to house bodies moved here from the overcrowded cemeteries of Paris.
The bones of exhumed bodies were stacked neatly in various rooms creating kilometres of walls composed entirely of human remains.
They are 65 ft (20m) underground and contain the remains of six million Parisians. During WWII, the tunnels were used as a headquarters by the Resistance.
The route through the Catacombs begins at a small, dark green Belle Époque-style building in the centre of a grassy area of av Colonel Henri Roi-Tanguy, the new name of place Denfert Rochereau.
The exit is at the end of 83 steps on rue Remy Dumoncel, southwest where a guard will check your bag for 'borrowed' bones.
Paris CataCombs |
Access to the catacombs is extremely limited and the long lines can last up to two hours.
With privileged skip the line access you can avoid the long wait and enjoy a personalized visit with our limited group of just 20 guests per day
 |