Opened in 1804
Père Lachaise was established under Napoleon Bonaparte’s orders as part of an effort to modernize burial practices and address overcrowding in Paris’s inner-city cemeteries.
It was among the first garden-style cemeteries, combining natural beauty with commemorative design.
First Modern Cemetery in Paris
Père Lachaise is the final resting place for numerous artists, writers, musicians, and thinkers who shaped cultural and intellectual history.
Artists' Burial Site
Père Lachaise attracts millions of visitors each year due to the notable individuals buried there:
Writers and Poets: Oscar Wilde, Marcel Proust, Honoré de Balzac, Gertrude Stein, Colette.
Musicians: Jim Morrison (The Doors), Frédéric Chopin, Édith Piaf.
Philosophers and Thinkers: Auguste Comte, Pierre Bourdieu.
