It's hard to imagine today, when we see this necropolis where over a million people have been laid to rest. Yet, in its early days, the Père Lachaise Cemetery was far from the popular site it is now. In its first year, 1804, it only recorded 13 burials. Eleven years later, that number had risen to just 2,000 graves. Parisians were hesitant to bury their loved ones in this somewhat remote cemetery, located in a "working-class" area.
This unconventional marketing strategy is about to shake things up. The Prefect of Paris has decided to relocate the remains of renowned figures: those of Molière, Jean de La Fontaine, as well as Héloïse and Abélard. Over the past 15 years, Père Lachaise Cemetery has expanded from 2,000 to 33,000 graves and has grown to the size we recognize today.
Today, visitors come from all corners of the globe to pay homage to the legendary figures buried here. From Edith Piaf to Jim Morrison, not to mention Oscar Wilde, many renowned personalities have since joined the ranks of the most famous residents of Père Lachaise Cemetery.
Who is buried in Père Lachaise? List of celebrities and their locations in the Parisian cemetery
Which celebrities are buried at Père Lachaise? Artists, musicians, writers - here's a list of the personalities buried in this famous Parisian cemetery, and the divisions in which they lie. [Read more]
Location
Père-Lachaise Cemetery
Cimetière du Père-Lachaise
75020 Paris 20
