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Writer's pictureEvelyn

The Unusual Tourist Attraction in Paris: Père-Lachaise

Updated: Nov 6, 2022

As the art centre in Europe, Paris never lacks any cultural allure to visitors of the world. But as opposed to the indoor, perfectly lit museums, there is also a place that is outdoor, a bit dark, and less crowded (not in the sense of living humans anyway). Covering 43 hectares, Père-Lachaise is certainly a unique place to visit. As the largest cemetery in Paris and the most visited necropolis in the world, it does have its historical appeal housing 70,000 tombs. Travelling through its maze of stones, you will stumble upon some notable figures like Frédéric Chopin, Jacques-Louis David, Edith Piaf, Marcel Proust, Oscar Wilde etc. And if you play enough attention, you might discover some secrets along the cobbled alleys.


HISTORY OF PÈRE-LACHAISE

Monument des Victimes du Devoir at Père-Lachaise
Monument des Victimes du Devoir at Père-Lachaise

If you have watched Amélie, Emily in Paris, or Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, you must have heard of Père-Lachaise. But do you know how it became famous? Before Père-Lachaise there lived a Louis XIV's confessor: Father François d'Aix de La Chaise. Father (Père in French) La Chaise lived on the site (previously known as Champ Evêque) from 1675 until his death in 1709. More than a century later after his death, due to the lack of burial space in Paris and the concern of disease transmission, Napoleon decided to transform the site into a cemetery. Naturally, the name La Chaise was chosen to commemorate the life of the well-loved father.


HOW PÈRE-LACHAISE BECAME FAMOUS

The tomb of Héloïse and Abélard (the two lovers who died in 1164 and 1142 respectively)
The tomb of Héloïse and Abélard (the two lovers who died in 1164 and 1142 respectively)

When the nowadays famous Parisian cemetery was opened in 1804, it only had a few graves, as the Parisians back then didn’t like the idea of being buried in a poor district, not to mention its location which was then too far away from the city centre. As a result, the number of graves grew slowly, but the prefect of Paris did something to restore the image of the cemetery: they transferred the remains of Héloïse and Abélard (the two lovers who died in 1164 and 1142 respectively) as well as Molière (the French actor who died in 1673) in 1817. Apparently, the idea of sharing the final resting place with these “celebrities” delighted lots of Parisians. Between 1824 and 1850, Père-Lachaise was so popular that it underwent five expansions. Now, it’s recorded that there are more than 1 million bodies buried there.


THE WELL-KNOWN SECRETS BURIED IN PÈRE-LACHAISE

The tomb of Polish composer and pianist Frédéric Chopin, with his body but not the heart
The tomb of Polish composer and pianist Frédéric Chopin, with his body but not the heart
The tomb of Victor Noir, a French journalist who was murdered in 1870 by Prince Pierre Bonaparte, cousin of the French Emperor Napoleon III
The tomb of Victor Noir, a French journalist who was murdered in 1870 by Prince Pierre Bonaparte, cousin of the French Emperor Napoleon III

Over time, more and more famous people are buried in this Parisian cemetery, which attracts lots of visitors coming to pay their visits every year. For example, Chopin was one of the celebrities who is buried in Père-Lachaise, not his whole body though. His heart was shipped back to Poland to be buried, as his own request because he wanted to make sure he wasn’t buried alive. Another example is Victor Noir, whose tomb has become a fertility symbol because his genital area was bumped up. This has led to a myth suggesting that women rubbing the area would enhance fertility.


These little stories of famous figures might sound funny and absurd, but they do make Père-Lachaise even more appealing, both to the living and the dead. Nowadays, Père Lachaise continues to accept new burials, but unlike in 1804, there is a waiting list now and few spaces are available. And to us who are still breathing, Père-Lachaise is an architectural attraction that allows its visitors to stroll through its funerary art.


P.s. If you are looking for another Parisian spot to visit, this little Impressionist island in Paris might just interest you!


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