Pere Lachaise Cemetery: France’s Beautiful City of the Dead
Pere Lachaise is arguably the most famous cemetery in the world. No trip to Paris is complete without a stop at a cemetery celebrated for its famous occupants, dazzling tombs, and beautiful gardens. Millions of visitors from across the globe flock to Pere Lachaise every year to visit the graves of Doors singer Jim Morrison, writer Oscar Wilde, and composer Frederic Chopin.
Pere Lachaise was founded in 1804, when Napoleon ruled France with an iron fist. The cemetery is named after French priest Francois de la Chaise, who heard King Louis XIV’s confessions. Pere Lachaise received a relatively cool reception from the people of France until the remains of celebrated playwright Moliere were interred in the cemetery. In the wake of Moliere’s arrival, Pere Lachaise became the hottest cemetery in town.
Visitors can easily spend an entire day surveying the ornate tombs, gravestones, and monuments of Pere Lachaise. One of the most popular tombs is the final resting place of performer Etienne-Gaspard Robert. Etienne-Gaspard—who performed under the stage name Robertson—scared audiences around the world out of their wits by projecting make-believe phantoms onto a smoky, dimly lit stage in the early 1800s. Etienne-Gaspard Robert’s tomb features a stone likeness of several menacing phantoms steadily advancing towards a group of terrified onlookers.
Pere Lachaise Cemetery doubles as a peaceful park with plenty of benches where visitors can relax and enjoy a stunning view of the surrounding trees, dramatic statues of grief-stricken widows, and even a surrealist sculpture or two. If you fall in love with Pere Lachaise, the cemetery does still have a few burial plots that are reserved for new arrivals. Be aware that there is a waitlist and you have to die in Paris and be a French citizen in order to be buried in one of the world’s most celebrated cemeteries.
UnusualPlaces Field Notes
- Location
- Père-Lachaise Cemetery main entrance, 28 ter boulevard de Ménilmontant, Paris, France
- Coordinates
- 48.859969, 2.389222
- Access
- Free public entry to a working cemetery. The City says many paths are old cobblestone or uneven earth; some areas are narrow and difficult for wheelchairs. The Amandiers and Réunion gates have stairs and are not wheelchair accessible. Be respectful during funerals, do not climb or sit on graves, and note that the Héloïse and Abélard tomb is under restoration until August 2027.
- Admission
- Free entry, including public holidays, according to the City of Paris. Independent guided tours are offered by outside providers; the cemetery does not organize official or accredited tours.
- Time needed
- Allow at least 2 hours, as advised by the City of Paris. The cemetery covers about 43 hectares with many kilometres of paths; finding particular graves can take longer. Bring a map and comfortable shoes.
- Best season
- The City does not name a preferred season. Opening hours change seasonally; choose a date that fits the current timetable and check for exceptional weather closures. Autumn flower displays and seasonal foliage may be present, but no special visit season is guaranteed.
- Opening hours
- City of Paris schedule for March 16–November 5, 2026: Monday–Friday 08:00–18:00; Saturday 08:30–18:00; Sunday 09:00–18:00. The public is no longer admitted 15 minutes before closing, when evacuation begins. Hours change by season; check the official page for the schedule after November 5 and for exceptional closures.
- Location checked
- 2026-09-09
- Facts checked
- 2026-10-10
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