Strolling through Historic Pere-Lachaise Cemetery

Père Lachaise Cemetery is the largest cemetery in Paris and it is one of the most famous cemeteries in the world. It's even reputed to be the world's most-visited cemetery. Visitors (both foreign and French) are attracted to the graves of those who have enhanced French life over the past 200 years. In short, Pere Lachaise is a celebrity cemetery- it has almost anyone French, talented and dead that you care to mention. And not even French for that matter. Creed and nationality have never prevented entry, you just need to have lived or died Paris.

The cemetery takes its name from a priest who served King Louis XIV who lived in a small house on the site near a chapel. The property sits on a sloping hillside (and you can get a pretty nice view of the city from here) was bought by the city and established by Napoleon in 1804.

Cemeteries (which were foul and unsanitary centuries ago) had been banned inside Paris since 1786 due to health hazards and this same health hazard also led to the creation of the famous Parisian catacombs in the south of the city.

Below are a few images and stories of some of the famous residents of the cemetery.

James Douglas Morrison- The Lizard King

How it used to be....

...and how it is today. Seems that constant "vandalism" and too

many visitors have forced some changes.

Victor Noir - Lucky in Love?

Victor Noir was a journalist who was murdered in the street by a cousin of Napoleon III in 1870. A life-size bronze statue was sculpted to mark his grave and it realistically portrays the man as though he had just been shot and fallen in the street. The sculpture has a very noticeable protuberance in Noir's trousers (i.e. a big unit). Myth says that placing a flower in his dropped top hat, kissing the statue on the lips, and rubbing his groin will enhance fertility, bring a blissful sex life, or, in some versions, a husband within the year. As you can guess, his lips and crotch are rather shiny and well-worn compared to the oxidized green elsewhere.

Oscar Wilde - The Original Rebel

Death by Kisses?

Author Oscar Wilde's grave is in danger of permanent damage. Lately, fans have taken to leaving bright red lipstick kisses on the monument, and, unlike paint, pens, and candle scorches, the lipstick leaves an oily residue which can't be removed.

The lipstick graffiti includes such pearls of wisdom as "You are the best! You can never die!" and "Je t'aime Oscar!" along with misquoted lines from his work. The grave has always had a rough time and was originally paid for by an anonymous 'lady' (most likely some former male lover).

The rather handsome naked angel at the tomb was extremely well hung, until the head keeper of the cemetery decided that it was so offensive he castrated the winged guard (and supposedly used the testicles as a paperweight for many years). The angel's heavenly balls were later replaced, but were swiped during the 1960s. The grave was restored again in the 90s, and since then there has been a sign reminding people that it is a historic monument and protected by law. As you can see the warning has done little to deter the more amorous admirers.