Wandering among the dead in Père Lachaise cemetery

I totally respect dead people, and I think that Père Lachaise gives another dimension to cemeteries. Cemeteries are generally sober with silent people walking slowly between the rows of aligned graves. I never go to cemeteries, as I feel this atmosphere oppressive. I prefer to think about people I lost in a positive manner. Père Lachaise cemetery is one of those exceptions that make me feel comfortable. It is like an outdoor museum with thousands of graves, of some famous like Molière and La Fontaine, who were one of the first one buried in Père Lachaise, and others of people who simply died in Paris.

Molière and La Fontaine graves – two of the first graves of Pere Lachaise cemetery transferred in 1804

All extremes are bad, and unfortunately the fact that this cemetery is being visited by hundreds of thousands tourists every year have some drawbacks: Oscar Wilde’s grave requires a regular renovation to wash down lipstick marks left by fans. One even stole the genital parts of the angel (I thought angels had no sex!). Well, if you respect the peaceful rest of dead people, Père Lachaise cemetery is a great place to wander around and get lost between its graves.

Oscar Wilde grave protected by a glass barrier

I decided on purpose to show you only black and white pictures, maybe to contradict myself! But so that you don’t feel like uncomfortable, let me share with you a photo of the colourful grave of Chopin.

To close this post, an homage to the thousands of Jewish and resistance fighters killed during the holocaust.