In Paris, the majority of visitors head for the famous Père-Lachaise cemetery for an original visit, following in the footsteps of famous French and international personalities. But it's not the only place to find illustrious writers, politicians, scientists or singers, and pay their respects at their graves. In the 14th arrondissement of Paris, close to the train station, lies the 19-hectare Montparnasse cemetery, the final resting place of Jean-Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, Ionesco, Maupassant, Citroën and Marguerite Duras.
Opened in 1824, the "southern" cemetery is the second largest necropolis in Paris. Named after the young students who came here to declaim their verses, Mont Parnasse was once a dumping ground for the nearby quarries. The site was built on the site of farms, which is why the tower of a flour mill, listed as a historic monument, is still there today, the only vestige of the past.
Did you know? 3 unusual anecdotes about Père Lachaise cemetery
Père Lachaise is one of the world's most famous cemeteries. Its famous tombs, its mysteries and its fascinating history. But how much do you really know about it? We reveal 3 unusual anecdotes about the Père Lachaise cemetery. [Read more]
Many of the tombs in the landscape are covered withunusual objects linked to the personalities buried there, such as the poems on Baudelaire's tombstone. Discover three personalized tombs not to be missed during a quiet, relaxing stroll around Montparnasse.
The biggest star of the Montparnasse cemetery, Serge Gainsbourg is buried with his parents, and receives a large number of offerings from tourists and passers-by. Cigarette butts, but also metro tickets, can be found on his grave! The reason for this? The famous song"Le Poinçonneur des Lilas", which immortalized the old profession, lost since the arrival of automatic turnstiles. In a nod to the song, the tomb is covered with these little scraps of paper, which will tend to disappear with the end of tickets in favor of the Navigo.
Famous French writer and playwright Marguerite Duras receives this unusual planting of pens, felt-tips and pencils as a daily tribute, accompanying her even to her final resting place. These colorful bits of writing add a cheerful touch to the grave, alongside the little daisy placed on a flowerpot.
Please put a buoy on my grave.
Because you never know.
So wrote Robert Desnos in his surrealist poem"Les grands jours du poète", in 1927. A phrase that was taken literally by those around him, who placed a colored buoy on his grave to prevent the man from sinking into oblivion, which he associated with the sea.
Location
Montparnasse Cemetery
3, boulevard Edgar Quinet
75014 Paris 14
Did you know? 3 unusual anecdotes about Père Lachaise cemetery
