Cimetière du Père Lachaise

Pros: Incredibly atmospheric...
Cons: ...demonic black cats will suck out your soul.

I couldn't have picked a better day to go wandering in P aris' most prestigious cemetery (founded 1803 by Napoleon). It was one of the few bleakly overcast days of my entire five weeks in Europe, with an occasional soft ...

Pros: A Beautiful, historic location. Easy to get to. You don't have to understand French.
Cons: Touristy, Vandalism

When, the group that I was with in Paris, suggested that we visit a Cemetery, I thought that they had lost their minds! I was in Paris, to have fun, not look at a bunch of Tombstones.

They were all excited, because Pere Lachaise, as the locals...

Pros: History but today.
Cons: None.

Why would I want to write an article on a cemetery ? Well, the answer is this. In France, cemeteries are a very important part of the life of French people. They are not places where forgotten souls are buried, but in fact celebrated on All Saints Day, ...

Pros: All human life (and death) is revealed in the most unexpected and interesting ways
Cons: Death is not everyone's cup of tea

I've always liked cemetaries. And not just because I was the sort of kid who desperately wanted to have been born into the Addams Family.

Cemetaries are very much more than resting places for the dead and it's no contradiction when I say that...

Pros: you get to see a lot of famous grave sites
Cons: the graffiti and vandalism of Doors fans

One problem with trying to write epinions on cities is that they require more space than these reviews allot. A city like Paris could fill an entire book and omit a lot of important places and sites. Rather than try to capsize this great city, I'll...

Pros: A fascinating respite from the hustle and bustle of the city
Cons: May be a little gruesome for some

We've all heard about the sites to see in Paris--the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame. But what about the most popular sites with the locals? The sites all Parisians visit eventually? That's right--the cemeteries. Paris has some of the most beautiful ...

Pros: Peace, serenity, history, free entry
Cons: The potent sexual energy it appears to unleash

Pere La Chaise is the Ritz of cemeteries. It may not be practical, but it's definitely classy. It is my favourite place in Paris, and the place I'd most love to be buried.

It is designed to be a sound trap, so that even though surrounded...

Pros: Final resting place for some interesting people.
Cons: Vandalism, eeriness, yet exhilarating.

It was a cold and dreary day in Paris, April 11, 2001. My baby and I took the #3 Metro Line and got off at the Pere Lachaise station, not knowing what the weather would be like above ground. We were ready to escape the comfort of the underground into...

Pros: An interesting view of history from the other side.
Cons: It may be a bit morbid for your tastes.

I hate looking like a tourist. Granted the way I dress sets me apart from most French females (big pants seem to be common for young guys, but not for girls). And my rather poor accent when speaking broken French doesn't help with blending in either....

Pros: Many famous buried here. Quiet and peaceful and pretty.
Cons: None

I went to Paris during the summer as part of a study abroad program. I was there for six weeks, so I got to see alot of Paris that I would not normally see if I had just been passing through. This was one of the places that I probably would not have...

Pros: Quiet and SO exquisitely beautiful.
Cons: The Graffiti from all of the Doors "fans."

I had mixed feelings about Paris. I loved to walk around and drink in its exquisite beauty. It may sound like a cliche, but that was how I felt. However. I LOATHED the Parisians. I would have happily hid in our hotel room until it was time to go. I...

Pros: Voyeuristic look at some famous graves
Cons: Maybe a bit morbid for grandma or kids

The Cimitiere du Pere Lachaise is by its nature a bit morbid: it is a cemetery. You can nevertheless find the graves of a plethora of famous dead folks, including Oscar Wilde, Chopin, French writer Colette, and even Jim Morrison of the Doors. It's...

Pros: Beautiful, free
Cons: A frat boy trap

I stood only a few feet from Jim Morrison’s rotting bones singing old Doors tunes in my head. All around me yuppie tourists and frat boys on break shot photo after photo of Jim’s measly grave as I stood watching in awe.
So why, then, was this the...

Pros: shady, quiet retreat; famous people buried here
Cons: none

The Pere-Lachaise cemetery is a perfect place to spend a quiet afternoon. Paris can get overwhelming at times. If you are burned out on art museums, consider spending a few hours strolling quietly in Pere Lachaise, visiting the graves of famous, and...

Pros: Spiritually refreshing atmosphere, invigorating after a day of sightseeing
Cons: Hilly, could be boring for kids; parties at Jim's grave occasionally disturb the mood

The Père Lachaise cemetery is, of course, one of the best-known and most-visited tourist attractions in Paris. With the aid of a map purchased from the flower-seller near the entrance, you can navigate your way to the graves of the famous and infamous,...