Père-Lachaise Cemetery

[london1967]

I don't know why but I have always loved cemeteries.
The Cimetière du Père-Lachaise is the largest in Paris and arguably the most famous.
Walking around it is like flicking through a very old French (but not only) edition of Who's Who.

Last Saturday we spent a few hours in there but only managed to see about half of it.
The autumn colours made it really beautiful too.


As it was All Hallows' Eve there were many people bringing chrysanthemums plus of course a few tourists.

Some of the tombs and monuments are Victorian masterpieces, remnants of an era when even dying had to be done properly.
One of my favourite is the joint tomb of two scientists Croce-Spinelli and Sivel who died of oxygen deprivation in 1875 in a balloon at the altitude of 8,600 meters.

The monument shows the 2 men lying side by side, covered only by a sheet





One side of the cemetery is full of monuments to the victims of Nazi death camps:



It is also interesting to learn about strange traditions: Oscar Wilde's tomb is covered in lipstick kisses (and the genitalia of the Jacob Epstein's monument have been hacked away);



the tomb of assassinated journalist Victor Noir is a fertility symbol because of the bulge in "that" area.
I've looked on the internet and apparently there are several schools of thought about what one should do: kiss him on the lips, rub his crotch, put flower in the top hat, touch the shoes.
As you can see some people do all of the above.





(I think that whoever wrote the English entry in Wikipedia got slightly over-excited: "The tomb, designed by Jules Dalou is notable for the realistic portrayal of the dead Noir, and for the fact that he appears to be at least partially sexually aroused, his large penis pushing his part-unbuttoned fly open.")

See below for more pictures:

Comments

[xianjessen.livejournal.com]

Beautiful shots. I would love to get back there one day. I never noticed the patina-free crotch before - that is hilarious!

I wish they would move Jim Morrison to the street, though...

[london1967.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

We didn't go to see Morrison's tomb. Do you suggest moving it to the street so that the rest of the cemetery would be quieter?

[xianjessen.livejournal.com]

More to reduce the vandalism and graffiti on all the tombs surrounding Morrison's. There seem to be plenty of people who pilgrim just to see Jim Morrison's grave; why not give them easy access? :)

[gorkabear.livejournal.com]

Wow, I loved that cemetery too. Although I spent my time in other tombs.

The insight about Victor Noir was also great, haha. Neither my ex or me knew about that

[london1967.livejournal.com]

I was very amused to find out about Victor Noir's tomb too.
Apparently they put a fence around the tomb at some point but later removed it.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3975607.stm

[bearzendurham.livejournal.com]

Beautiful and fascinating . . . thanks for sharing these. I'm haunted by the bones sculpture. The artist was very effective.

[london1967.livejournal.com]

Thank you, and my pleasure!

[(Anonymous)]

Gavin and I spent a few very cold and windswept hours here just after Xmas a few years ago. Such an amazing place. We suddenly came across a large group of people gathered a round one grave, waited for them to move and realised it was the grave of Edith Piaf there were flowers everywhere around it.

[london1967.livejournal.com]

It is rather wonderful! Although Edith Piaf's grave was a bit disappointing, but then most modern tombs are.
xxx

[(Anonymous)]

that last comment is from Glenbear BTW LOL!! forgot to 'sign' it. Hugs to Franco XXX

[(Anonymous)]

Yes i agree Franco you would have thought that Paris would have afforded her a better resting place. hugs Glenbear (remembered this time ;-)