The Pere Lachaise Cemetery - France's Most Visited Cemetery

The Pere Lachaise Cemetery is one of the most famous cemeteries in the world, and thought to be one of the most visited, drawing many thousands of visitors each year who pay their respects to those buried within. Located on the Right Bank of Paris, this location is named after Pere Francois de la Chaise, a Jesuit priest who served as confessor for King Lois XIV.

The cemetery was established in 1804 by the Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, some 18 years after such sites had been banned within Paris city limits. That ban began when the Cimetiere des Innocents was believed to have been a health hazard to the neighboring food market. In the days of limited travel, Pere Lachaise was seen as being too far from the city, and thus saw a slow business in funerals. To build enthusiasm for Bonaparte's creation, cemetery administrators moved the bodies of the famed French poet La Fontaine, as well as satirist Moliere to Pere Lachaise shortly after its opening, later adding philosopher Pierre Abelard and his love, Heloise to the population. It is before the remains of these two that heartbroken lovers or those hopelessly single often leave letters, in hopes of finding their true loves. Enthusiasm for choosing Pere Lachaise as a final resting place grew rapidly, expanding the number buried within from several dozen to tens of thousands within a few short years, and to more than 300,000 in the present day. The cemetery is comprised of more than 80 divisions, split by dozens of streets.

Entering Pere Lachaise by Avenue Principale, you'll enter through division 1. As you begin to make a counterclockwise loop around the ceremony, through divisions that are anything except sequentially numbered, you'll arrive at division 7, permanent home to famed industrial banker James de Rothschild, laid to rest near Abelard and Heloise for all eternity. Next, going straight in from Rothschild, you'll encounter the grave of composer Frederick Chopin, in division 10. Crossing to the east to division 16, stop for a chat with the spirit of American singer/songwriter Jim Morrison, which is guarded by a full-time security team due to the crowds attracted by this pop icon. If you turn back towards Rothschild and walk north to division 91, you'll arrive at the tomb of Sarah Bernhardt, thought to be the most famous actress of the 19^th century. After discussing the latest in Parisian culture with "the Divine Sarah", turn due northeast to visit the Communards Wall in division 77, against which 147 leaders of the Paris Commune were lined and shot in 1871. This often-visited attraction is in the farthest corner of the entire cemetery.

Continuing your counter-clockwise tour of Pere Lachaise, you can next visit Gertrude Stein, another American buried overseas, famed for her unique style of writing, which included the quote "a rose is a rose is a rose is a rose." Ms. Stein is buried in division 94. Continue on to the west to division 89, and pay your respects to Irish novelist and playwright, Oscar Wilde, whose grave is, by tradition, kissed by admirers wearing bright lipstick, in keeping with the flamboyant lifestyle he lead in Victorian England. Rounding the northwest corner, turn south to division 85 to enter the world of French novelist Marcel Proust.

While Napoleon was the moving force behind the creation of Pere Lachaise cemetery, he himself is not buried here. However, one of his mistresses is - or rather, the heart of one of his mistresses is contained within the tomb of her husband, a cousin to the Emperor. Polish-born Marie Walewski first caught the eye of Napoleon in 1807 as a vibrant 22 year old with blonde hair and blue eyes. Although not interested in beginning an affair, friends encouraged Marie to pursue Napoleon as a patriotic duty. When she did begin her relationship with him, she did so in order to influence his feelings positively towards Poland, but the affair quickly heated up. Marie bore the son of Napoleon in 1810, just three short years before his exile to Elba, where she and her son would later make brief and discreet trips to provide comfort. In 1816, Marie married the first cousin to Napoleon, Count Phillipe Antoine D'Ornano, before dying in labor just one year later. Although the Count returned her body to Poland for burial, her heart remained in the D'Ornano family crypt at Pere Lachaise.

Enjoy exploring this magnificent cemetery, and if approached by any of the street beggars who often frequent the area, remember the example of Marie Walewski and have a heart.