Père Lachaise is the most visited cemetery in the world – and one of the most beautiful walks in Paris. Opened in 1804 on a hillside in the east of the city, it is a romantic maze of cobbled lanes, chapels and old trees, with around 15 km of paths. Entry is free.
Famous graves
Hundreds of famous people rest here. Among the most visited:
- Jim Morrison, the singer of The Doors.
- Oscar Wilde, under a winged sphinx protected by glass.
- Frédéric Chopin – his heart, however, is in Warsaw.
- Édith Piaf, the voice of *La Vie en rose*.
- Molière and Jean de La Fontaine, moved here to make the new cemetery fashionable.
The famous tomb of the medieval lovers Héloïse and Abélard is under restoration and is not visible until August 2027.
The Communards’ Wall
In the north-east corner, the Mur des Fédérés marks the place where the last fighters of the Paris Commune were shot in May 1871. It is a place of memory for the French left.
How to visit
- Get a map or use the interactive map online: the cemetery is huge and the tombs are not signposted.
- The main gate is on boulevard de Ménilmontant; the Gambetta side (top of the hill) lets you walk downhill.
- Wear comfortable shoes: the cobbles are uneven and some lanes are steep.
Good to know
Père Lachaise is a working cemetery: be discreet and respectful. Hours change with the seasons, so check before you go.
