Pere Lachaise Cemetery – Cimetière du Père Lachaise

(Last Update: 03.09.2024) “What is a cemetery doing among the places to visit in a city?” You may be thinking, but after reading this article and looking at the photos, especially after going and Père Lachaise CemeteryI'm sure you'll change your mind after seeing this.

This huge cemetery of approximately 1804 hectares was opened in 44. more like park, garden, open air museum, art gallery A place like. How peaceful, how beautiful. Although the most peaceful and "enjoyable" cemetery for me was in Toronto, this is of course a much more important place in terms of art-aesthetics-fame. Of course, I also love Karacaahmet. I look at the graves of people sleeping under the shade of the cypress trees and visit my relatives buried there; Every time I visit, I remember that I need to use my right to live better, more efficiently and with higher quality.

If you want, before reading the article, go to Pere Lachaise Cemetery. Pariste.Net TVYou can also watch the video below, which I shot for you and shows the locations of the graves of celebrities, to be published on . Of course, reading the article will help you learn more details.

Père Lachaise (per laşez or peğ laşez) France's most famous faces resting place However, many famous names from around the world are in this cemetery. they are sleeping their last sleep. But from my point of view, it is as much about the atmosphere of the cemetery as it is about who lies here; In addition to the magnificence of the mausoleums lined up side by side, the important thing is that it is an environment where you can feel the coexistence of life, death and aesthetics in your bones.

Cemeteries may contain the fear of facing death for many people, as they write in large fonts at the entrance of Zincirlikuyu Cemetery in Istanbul:Every creature will taste deathThis fact may be underlined with the verse "but For me, the cemetery is an opportunity to emphasize the importance of appreciating the fact that we are alive and breathing, enjoying it, and not wasting time, as well as the undeniable reality of death. at the same time. “We're alive, we're alive, so let's do it justice" I always think.

As soon as you enter the gate, you feel like you have come to visit the parks and gardens of Père Lachaise Cemetery, rather than visiting a cemetery. Thousands of statues, monuments, buildings, all lined up side by side, waiting for your curious eyes to catch the details.

If it is a summer day, you benefit from the shade of the trees; if it is spring, flowers are everywhere; If it's autumn, the dance of yellow and red leaves, and if it's winter, the gloom of the gothic atmosphere... You are in a beautiful place to visit in every climate, what more could you ask for?

Who isn't among the famous names sleeping here? Rossini, Bellini, Baron Haussmann, Peter Abelard, Balzac, Georges Bizet, Maria Callas, Chopin, Auguste Compte, La Fontaine, Molière, Yves Montand, Jim Morrison, Edith Piaf, Marcel Proust, Oscar Wilde and many more…

Two famous names from us too Yılmaz Güney ve Ahmet Kaya's graves are also located here, and both of their graves are always decorated with flowers and notes. I will try to describe how to find the locations of these graves in the following sections of the article.

You can visit the cemetery in two waysFirst: As if you were visiting a park or garden, randomly proceed along the path that seems most beautiful to you; Secondly, by finding the locations of the cemeteries of the celebrities you want to visit on a plan in advance and following the most suitable route.

Then you can proceed with a plan you have previously made or find your way by finding the name you are looking for on the board at the entrance of the cemetery. The graves of the celebrities you want to see in the list sorted by surnamedivision (division)”, that is, you need to take note of which island they are on and draw your way accordingly.

Because division numbers are written on green signs in every corner of the cemetery, but there are no signs where the graves of celebrities are located. After all, this is not a museum or exhibition space; cemetery... That's why you have to be very careful while visiting.

In both cases I would like to say that you can walk around here safely.. Apart from the slightly gloomy atmosphere of the environment, there is nothing spooky or frightening. You can explore Pere Lachaise Cemetery to your heart's content by following the paths in front of you as you wish.

It is possible to choose two or three different starting points to start your trip. You can change your starting point depending on who you want to see first, your priorities, and whether you think it's easier to start by going up or down the hill. If you wish, from the most popular point, that is, of the metro M2 ve M3 Let's start from the part reached by the "Père Lachaise" station, where the lines pass.

When you leave the station, the one on the right Boulevard de MénilmontantWhen you enter, you will see the cemetery wall start on your left. If you wish, you can directly reach Yılmaz Güney's grave by entering through the small door at the very beginning.

When you enter that door and climb the stairs, if you continue straight along the wall, you will see it on the left. Yılmaz Güney's grave will appear before you. Although, if I am going to enter Père Lachaise Cemetery from below, I prefer not to enter from this gate, but from the main gate a little further. Because when I enter through this small door, I feel as if I have come to visit a cemetery during the holidays, but when I enter through the main door, I realize that I have really come to visit a cemetery. Because the road right across from the main entrance is so beautiful... Both sides of this road are decorated with flowers and of course, various mausoleums. For example on the left Rossiniof and Baron HaussmanIt is possible to see the graves of .

If you want to enter from the main gate and directly reach the graves of Ahmet Kaya and Yılmaz Güney, you need to walk up and take the first left. If you continue straight from there, without turning anywhere, and always keep left when the roads fork, you will soon see a road on your left. division number 62You will see , that's at the bottom of it, at road level Yılmaz GüneyThere is a grave of .

If you turn back and continue on your way as if you never deviated, the road will wind up and division number 71You will reach . At work Ahmet Kaya's white marble tomb It will be waiting for you on your right, on the road:

Whenever I go to Ahmet Kaya's grave, I say "Like sand” song gets stuck. “Let me walk around your feet like sand, don't crush me like sand" I feel like I hear Ahmet Kaya say. I don't feel like I hear it, but let's say I actually hear it; The song always echoes in my mind. It is impossible to leave this grave, which is always decorated with flowers and fan notes.

So much so that, while I was shooting a Vlog here for Pariste.Net TV, I realized a dream of mine and asked my friend Hanifi to sing this song for me at Ahmet Kaya's grave. watch it will you like it?

Ahmet Kaya and Yılmaz Güney in the christian cemetery It may seem strange that he is buried, but the situation is not as you think. Because this is not actually a Christian cemetery... Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, atheists or many people whose religions I do not know sleep side by side here. Thousands of people who -perhaps- were not equal while alive, lie side by side here. Because death makes everyone equal.

Anyway, let's continue our trip: If you walk up from Ahmet Kaya's grave, turn from the second right and walk, you will see the square ahead on your left. BalzacThere is his grave if you are interested. Then, if you continue upwards, you will reach the upper door. M3 metro You come to the part reached by taking the line and getting off at the "Gambetta" station. This entrance is also extremely beautiful. It is an extremely interesting place decorated with many monuments and mausoleums. Of course, one of the most interesting places here Crematorium...

This is where the dead are cremated. As you know, some people prefer to be cremated after death. I'm a little confused about this though. I find it more meaningful for human beings to be buried after death. It is as if a human being is born, lives a life on earth, and dies. Even if he was of no use while he was on earth, at least he is of some use to nature after he dies; It is beneficial for wolves and birds, flowers and insects.

The burning process sounds like environmental pollution to me, but let's not lie, Sprinkling my ashes over the Bosphorus from the deck of a ferry after being cremated It's not like the idea is appealing :) But no, we don't know what will happen to anyone, but I think I want my last stop to be Karacaahmet; I want to sleep my last sleep right across from the hospital where I was born. I really like the idea of ​​traveling all over the world and only being able to cross the street in the end...

Crematorium at Pere Lachaise Cemetery from afar like a mosque it stands. One time, I came across a Buddhist funeral. The surroundings of a mosque-like building are a cemetery where dead people from all religions lie... It's confusing.

There are compartments arranged as galleries in the basement, as well as around the crematorium. The ashes of the cremated dead are stored in these compartments. It really is a very different view.

For example, if you want to see where Maria Callas' ashes were kept for a while after she was cremated, you need to go down the stairs on the front side of the crematorium, on the road side, turn left as soon as you enter the lower door and proceed through the "J" corridor. Just ahead, on the left, in section 16258 Ashes of Maria Callas The section reserved for welcomes you. Callas' ashes were kept here for a while, and then, upon her will, her ashes were scattered in the Aegean Sea...

If you continue along the road from the back wall of the gallery at the back of the crematorium, you will reach the 89th division on the left a little further on. When you turn left from there, you will see it a little further on the left. Oscar Wilde's giant tomb will be released… Oscar Wilde's grave is really interesting.

Both the size of the mausoleum and the lipstick-printed kisses on the glass in front of the tombstone cause this tomb to have a different atmosphere. People are also strange; Whatever kind of love it is, they go and kiss this glass and leave their lip prints. Of course, it should be taken as a show of love and accepted as such. After all, I love lip marks on the mirror or glass...

After all, aren't cemeteries for the living, not the dead? I think that those who are gone are long gone, and those who remain behind have developed their own methods and designed funeral ceremonies and cemeteries in order not to lose their minds in the face of this incredible event. The one who is gone is missed because nothing can be done. That's why so many stones are erected, that's why so many graves are protected and hidden. We think that we find our dead in the place where we last left them, every time we visit a cemetery; Isn't it actually ourselves, our own reality, that we meet every time?

When you return from Oscar Wilde's grave and reach the road you walked on, if you continue straight without changing your route, after a while you will come to the top of a hill. When you start going down that hill, keep an eye on the left, because on the left, it's not right on the road, but a little inland. Edith Piaf's grave, which she shared with her family you will see 97th division.

Edith Piaf songs echo in my ears every time. Lives, successes, happiness and unhappiness. Then they ignore their turn and pass away.

We continue going downhill... If you continue to the right when the road ends, the cemetery becomes much more mystical in this part. The pit seems to get deeper, and the elevations on the right side seem to be closing in on you.

After a while, when the road forks, if you continue on the right, you will enter from the left a little later, and after walking a little further, you will reach a most popular place in the 6th division. To Jim Morrison's grave you arrive. Everyone is already looking for that place.

On the way It's perfectly normal to stop someone and ask for directions to the place you're looking for at Pere Lachaise Cemetery.. That's why you may be asked such a question, and you can easily ask someone about the location of the grave you are looking for.

Jim Morrison's grave seems simpler and more put together than the graves of other celebrities. Still, he has many fans and visitors; Every time I go there is always someone there. The tomb is not very ostentatious, you cannot get too close to it, but still, this place is very important for many people...

If you continue on your way from here, you come to a round green island with a statue in the middle, the photo of which you see above. If you turn left from there and then turn right inside, or if you dive directly into the tombs from the left diagonal of the island like me and try to reach the road at the back. To Chopin's grave you arrive. This tomb is really nice too.

I thought Chopin's grave was in Warsaw, but during a trip to Warsaw When he learned that Chopin's heart was in Warsaw and his body was in Paris I'm shocked. Although it may seem very tragic for a person's heart to be buried somewhere else and the body to be buried somewhere else, I know the truth of the matter is this:

Chopin was so afraid of being buried alive that he asked for his heart to be ripped out when he died to make sure he was dead! After all, if you visit that grave with this additional information, you may have mixed feelings like me.

In the lower right diagonal of Chopin's grave, in the area of ​​the 7th division Helosie and AbelardThere are graves of . In the medieval philosophy class at the university, I read about Heloise and her love story with great passion and enthusiasm.A Story of Unhappiness-Historia CalamitatumThe graves of the philosopher Abelard are also located in Père Lachaise Cemetery.

Just above Chopin's grave, BelliniThere is the grave of , the tombstone erected in the form of a long, thin column; While you're here, stop by, don't be a shame, don't miss it... Bellini's grave is a little bit inside, then you have to walk up and reach the road. If you continue left from where you reach the road, you come to a wonderful area. Below is the green road stretching towards the main gate of the cemetery, and above there are exquisite mausoleums. People are sitting here, resting, watching the surroundings, thinking about life and perhaps death. It's a really interesting environment.

As we go down the stairs from here, we return to the point where we started. This is how a typical Père Lachaise Cemetery tour ends for me. If there are any famous names I have forgotten or missed (and there are definitely), I apologize to them and to you. And many names, many graves, many monumental buildings whose names we do not know; it all lies here.

In summary, in my opinion, Pere Lachaise Cemetery is a must-visit for a Paris trip, a visit point that you should include in your list regardless of the weather conditions. Especially A Week in Paris If you are going to spend time, I recommend you include this place in your program. If the names I listed above are important to you, 3 nights 4 days in Paris Even if you are going to pass by, you will find your way here.

20. boroughAs I said, there are two options to reach Pere Lachaise Cemetery in . M2 or M3 metro You can get off at the “Père Lachaise” station of the M3 lines and enter from the lower door. metro It is also possible to get off at the "Gambetta" station of the line, enter the cemetery from the gate above, and stroll downhill. Whichever route you prefer, you can join the tour from one point of the circular route I have drawn for you.

When you finish your tour, if you exit the main door below and walk to the left Café l'Ami Justin You will reach a nice cafe-restaurant called. It has a very pleasant atmosphere, perfect for relieving tiredness after a "cemetery tour"; I advise.

If you turn left after the meal and continue Nation If you turn right and continue, you will reach the Belleville side. Parc de Belleville – Belleville ParkIt might be interesting to see.

Oh of course, and the other two famous cemeteries of Paris. Montparnasse Cemetery especially Montmartre Cemetery A must see place. Especially the underground cemetery catacombs There is a place that is mind-boggling...

By the way, Pere Lachaise Cemetery closes at 08:00 at the earliest in the morning and at 18:00 at the latest in the evening, and these hours vary depending on the months and holidays. Are you the best opening time 09:00 closing time 17:30 Think of it as such so that you are not left behind when you arrive or your tour is not left unfinished while you are traveling.

As you see Visiting a cemetery in Paris is like visiting an open-air museum or art gallery., as many parks and gardens; In other words, exquisite natural beauty in every season. That's why I recommend you to visit this place during your trip to Paris.

And always keep this in mind: We will all die one day... So appreciate this life, enjoy it as much as you can, and don't postpone the things you want to do but have kept waiting. Life is short, death is sudden; Live well, leave a beautiful story behind. Solve the problems you can solve as soon as possible, accept the ones you cannot solve as they are, and stop wearing yourself out.

Best regards…

Web address: pere-lachaise.com/

Address: 16 Rue du Repos, 75020 Paris

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