Père Lachaise Cemetery

Updated on September 13, 2026

At first glance, visiting a cemetery might seem like an odd idea, but Père-Lachaise is a genuine open-air museum well worth the detour. It is also, without question, the largest and most famous cemetery in Paris. Located in the 20th arrondissement of the capital, it spans 44 hectares and welcomes more than 3 million visitors every year.

Highlights

Celebrity graves

Père-Lachaise counts some 69,000 graves. Countless literary and artistic figures of every kind rest here. Some tombs are worth lingering over. The first is Oscar Wilde's, known as the Flying Demon Angel. It has had to be protected from the many kisses left by the mysterious writer's admirers. The grave of the Doors' singer, Jim Morrison, is also here — fans from all over the world come to pay tribute and leave messages. Pause for a moment at Marcel Proust's black marble tomb, where, like some visitors do, you can leave a madeleine. Many other notable figures are buried here too: Serge Gainsbourg, Édith Piaf, Molière, Jean de La Fontaine, Georges Brassens, and more.

A stroll through the grounds

Père-Lachaise Cemetery is one of the largest green spaces in Paris. A place for reflection but also an English-style garden, Père-Lachaise is a surprisingly pleasant place to wander through. The serenity that fills the grounds blends with its five thousand or so trees, representing around fifty different species. Cherry trees, weeping willows, walnut trees, acacias, and more share the space with sculptures and statues. Père-Lachaise also includes twelve listed historic monuments, notably the Chapelle de Godde, the Chapelle Georges Guët, and Bartholomé's war memorial.

Infos pratiques

Tips

Père-Lachaise Cemetery is both a strange and fascinating place. Steeped in history, it deserves to be explored in every corner. It's also full of anecdotes, so it's a good idea to visit with a guide.

How to get there

The main entrance to Père-Lachaise Cemetery is on Boulevard Ménilmontant. You can get there by metro, at "Père-Lachaise" station (lines 2 and 3) or "Philippe Auguste" (line 2). Buses 60 and 69 can also drop you off nearby.