Ok, so for this edition of An Au Pair Out & About we are going with a classic Parisian tourist spot - Cimetière du Père-Lachaise (Père Lachaise Cemetery). If you aren't afraid of graveyards and have excellent map reading skills, this can be a fun and interesting way to spend an afternoon.
If you haven't heard of Père Lachaise Cemetery, you may be wondering why anyone would want to spend a sunny afternoon with slightly creepy company. Well for your information Cimetière du Père-Lachaise is the largest cemetery in Paris, and is the final resting place of many famous individuals.
Opened on 21 May 1804, the cemetery belongs to the city of Paris, and is not owned by any particular church, temple, or religious group, in line with the decree of Napoleon that "Every citizen has the right to be buried regardless of race or religion." This means that you will find a variety of burials and gravestones here, from French to vietnamese, catholic to orthodox jewish, and the poor to the famous and wealth.
From modern minimalism to religious stained glass, there are a variety of styles of headstone in the cemetery. If you are a fan of history or art and architecture, there will be plenty here to interest you. There is also a large columbarium in the centre where the plaques and flowers of those cremated encircle the crematorium and descend for two floors below the earth.
But what people really come here for are the famous graves. here are a few of them below.
Felix Faure.
You may not have heard of him, but believe me this is a grave worth visiting. President of France from 1895 until his death in 1899, he tried to give the young Republic of France a sense of Gravitas by imitating the dress and attitudes of the Royals of Europe. He then went a died in a spectacular fashion - in the 'arms' of his mistress. Depending on which French person you ask, the act that the couple was engaging in varies, but regardless we know two things for sure 1) it was in the drawing room of the Presedential residence - Elysée Palace, and 2) Faure suffered a massive cerebral haemorrhage that killed him. Cue many jokes about the french term 'le petit mort' (look it up).
Honore Balzac.
Balzac was one of France's most famous novelists and playwrights. His work is a continuing source of inspiration for writers in France and internationally as well as now inspiring many film makers and directors. He died 5 months after marrying Ewelina Hańska, a Polish aristocrat who had been his lover for a long time.
Marcel Proust.
French novelist, critic, and essayist best known for his novel À la recherche du temps perdu, he is considered by many to be one of France's greatest writers. The stark, minimalist tombstone contrasts with the epic nature of À la recherche... , but is frequently adorned with tokens from devoted admirers, many from Paris' LGBT community.
Frédéric Chopin.
The polish virtuoso pianist and composer is also buried here. His grave is adorned with tokens not only from music fans, but also from many Polish visitors to Paris, who come to pay their respects to one of their country's greatest musicians.
Oscar Wilde.
One of the Ireland's greatest writers died in Paris after being exiled from Britain. One of the wittiest playwrights of his generation, Wilde was arrested and imprisoned for being gay. As soon as he was released, he left for France. After prolonged bad health and a greatly impoverished life, he died in Paris. His grave in Père Lachaise was frequently covered in mementos, including messages scrawled into the stone and lipstick kisses. In 2011 a glass screen was put up to prevent this. The epitaph is a verse from Wilde's work in exile: The Ballad of Reading Gaol
Heloise and Ableard.
The story of Heloise and Ableard is a true (if slightly embellished over time) mediaeval love story of a 12th century philosopher and theologian and his student. It was a tale that scandalised France, and resulted in a series of letters that have become the inspiration for real and fictional lovers for centuries. Josephine Bonaparte ordered that the remains of Abelard and Heloise be entombed together at Pére Lachaise cemetery in Paris. Today it is still a place where young lovers like to visit and leave tokens of their affection in the hope that their love will endure as long as Heloise and Ableard.
Jim Morrison.
The frontman of the doors has one of the most famous in Père Lachaise and one of the most visited. Morrison defined the rock and roll lifestyle, and after developing an alcohol dependency, dies at the age of 27. The area has had to be shut off from visitors, but people are still leaving tokens all over the steel railings. You may have to fight to get to the front of all the visitors, but you can't come to this cemetery and not pay Jim a visit.
I hope you get a chance to see this amazing Parisian landmark.
If you haven't heard of Père Lachaise Cemetery, you may be wondering why anyone would want to spend a sunny afternoon with slightly creepy company. Well for your information Cimetière du Père-Lachaise is the largest cemetery in Paris, and is the final resting place of many famous individuals.
Opened on 21 May 1804, the cemetery belongs to the city of Paris, and is not owned by any particular church, temple, or religious group, in line with the decree of Napoleon that "Every citizen has the right to be buried regardless of race or religion." This means that you will find a variety of burials and gravestones here, from French to vietnamese, catholic to orthodox jewish, and the poor to the famous and wealth.
From modern minimalism to religious stained glass, there are a variety of styles of headstone in the cemetery. If you are a fan of history or art and architecture, there will be plenty here to interest you. There is also a large columbarium in the centre where the plaques and flowers of those cremated encircle the crematorium and descend for two floors below the earth.
But what people really come here for are the famous graves. here are a few of them below.
Felix Faure.
You may not have heard of him, but believe me this is a grave worth visiting. President of France from 1895 until his death in 1899, he tried to give the young Republic of France a sense of Gravitas by imitating the dress and attitudes of the Royals of Europe. He then went a died in a spectacular fashion - in the 'arms' of his mistress. Depending on which French person you ask, the act that the couple was engaging in varies, but regardless we know two things for sure 1) it was in the drawing room of the Presedential residence - Elysée Palace, and 2) Faure suffered a massive cerebral haemorrhage that killed him. Cue many jokes about the french term 'le petit mort' (look it up).
Honore Balzac.
Balzac was one of France's most famous novelists and playwrights. His work is a continuing source of inspiration for writers in France and internationally as well as now inspiring many film makers and directors. He died 5 months after marrying Ewelina Hańska, a Polish aristocrat who had been his lover for a long time.
Marcel Proust.
French novelist, critic, and essayist best known for his novel À la recherche du temps perdu, he is considered by many to be one of France's greatest writers. The stark, minimalist tombstone contrasts with the epic nature of À la recherche... , but is frequently adorned with tokens from devoted admirers, many from Paris' LGBT community.
Frédéric Chopin.
The polish virtuoso pianist and composer is also buried here. His grave is adorned with tokens not only from music fans, but also from many Polish visitors to Paris, who come to pay their respects to one of their country's greatest musicians.
Oscar Wilde.
One of the Ireland's greatest writers died in Paris after being exiled from Britain. One of the wittiest playwrights of his generation, Wilde was arrested and imprisoned for being gay. As soon as he was released, he left for France. After prolonged bad health and a greatly impoverished life, he died in Paris. His grave in Père Lachaise was frequently covered in mementos, including messages scrawled into the stone and lipstick kisses. In 2011 a glass screen was put up to prevent this. The epitaph is a verse from Wilde's work in exile: The Ballad of Reading Gaol
"And alien tears will fill for him
Pity's long-broken urn,
For his mourners will be outcast men,
And outcasts always mourn."
Heloise and Ableard.
The story of Heloise and Ableard is a true (if slightly embellished over time) mediaeval love story of a 12th century philosopher and theologian and his student. It was a tale that scandalised France, and resulted in a series of letters that have become the inspiration for real and fictional lovers for centuries. Josephine Bonaparte ordered that the remains of Abelard and Heloise be entombed together at Pére Lachaise cemetery in Paris. Today it is still a place where young lovers like to visit and leave tokens of their affection in the hope that their love will endure as long as Heloise and Ableard.
Jim Morrison.
The frontman of the doors has one of the most famous in Père Lachaise and one of the most visited. Morrison defined the rock and roll lifestyle, and after developing an alcohol dependency, dies at the age of 27. The area has had to be shut off from visitors, but people are still leaving tokens all over the steel railings. You may have to fight to get to the front of all the visitors, but you can't come to this cemetery and not pay Jim a visit.
I hope you get a chance to see this amazing Parisian landmark.
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