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A unique cemetery in the world
Père-Lachaise is a working cemetery. It’s a pleasant place to stroll around, but we must be respectful of this funerary site. Admission is free.
A walk through the Père-Lachaise cemetery is a unique and unforgettable experience… This cemetery never offers the same visit twice.
No other place in the world contains so many graves of so many famous people. It’s a moving place of meditation and remembrance, alive with the seasons.
It also has a very special character, a peaceful atmosphere where nature, stones and tombs carved along cobbled paths intermingle. There is a wide variety of vegetation, trees and animals.
Along the lush green paths, you’ll come across the graves of men and women who have left their mark on the history of France and the world.
Map of the 97 divisions of the Père-Lachaise cemetery
To help you find your way around, here is a map of the 97 divisions into which the graves in Père-Lachaise cemetery are divided :
In the list of 500 personalities, you can note the number of the division in which each grave is located.
(A division number corresponds to the « quarter » of the cemetery in which the grave is located).
The Père-Lachaise cemetery, also known as the « eastern cemetery », is the largest cemetery in Paris, covering 43 hectares. It is part of the City of Paris Cemeteries Department, which is part of the Department of Green Spaces and the Environment.
Between 2 and 3 million people from all over the world visit the cemetery every year.
The cemetery features a number of memorials.
Various parts of the cemetery are « listed », not to mention countless sculptures by illustrious artists, as well as renowned architectural works.
The Père-Lachaise cemetery is set in a rectangle about 650 m wide and 680 m high, which gives you an idea of the distances involved. The cemetery is large: 43 hectares. It’s a good idea to bring good shoes, especially as many of the paths are paved.
Allow at least an hour for your visit, bearing in mind that you can easily go from one cemetery to the next… from discovery to discovery, you can easily spend two or three hours there!
There is a height difference between the top and bottom of the cemetery. For some people, it’s more comfortable to start the visit from the top: by the « Porte Gambetta ». This allows the tour to be completed on the way down. Bear in mind that there are a number of staircases.
On the other hand, for those who want to start the tour at the Main Gate, it is located (at the bottom) on the Boulevard de Ménilmontant, opposite the Rue de la Roquette.
There are some restrictions and prohibitions to be aware of before entering Père-Lachaise cemetery. Go to the « Practical information » page to find out about them.
Timetables can be found on this page: Practical information about Père-Lachaise cemetery.