Père Lachaise Cemetery

I know it can seem creepy but walking among the tombs is not that strange. Actually, many Parisians and tourists like to visit this famous cemetery. More specifically, around 3.5 million people from all around the world visit the Père-Lachaise cemetery each year. It is the most visited cemetery in the world and contains more than 69,000 tombs.

So, what makes it so special?

Firstly, it's calm (obviously). It is a place of meditation, everybody is quiet in cemeteries (because you do not want to wake the dead, right?). Paris, like all big cities, is noisy, people are stressed and always in a rush. So, sometimes it feels really soothing to simply walk in a cemetery.

Secondly, it is a wonderful place for art lovers. Indeed, all styles of funerary art are represented: Gothic tomb, Haussmanian vault, a mausoleum in the antique style, etc.

Thirdly, many famous people are buried in this cemetery: artists, musicians and singers (ex: James Morrison, Edith Piaf, Frédéric Chopin), writers (ex: Molière, Balzac, Colette, Marcel Proust, Alfred de Musset, Oscar Wilde), former statesmen, military men, historians...
It is a place full of history.

Useful information:

- The entry is free.
- Sightseeing tours are organised on weekends.
- A detailed plan can be downloaded from http://www.paris.fr/cimetieres
- Opening time:

From November to mid-March:
From 8h to 17h30 from Monday to Friday.
From 8h30 to 17h30 on Saturdays.
And from 9h to 17h30 on Sundays and public holidays.

From mid-March to October:
From 8h à 18h from Monday to Friday.
From 8h30 à 18h on Saturdays.
And from 9h to 18h on Sundays and public holidays.

- The last visitors are admitted at the latest 15 minutes before the closing.

And for people, who want to visit it by night, I am afraid it’s not possible!
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