Paris city hall has launched a unique opportunity for individuals to be laid to rest alongside some of history’s most renowned artists. Interested parties can participate in a draw by paying a few thousand euros and demonstrating a willingness to restore a neglected tombstone. The deadline for registration was this past Wednesday, with the chance to secure a burial spot in Paris’s iconic cemeteries, including Père-Lachaise.
Winners of the draw will have the opportunity to revive a forgotten and overgrown grave in exchange for the right to purchase a burial plot within the cemetery. Père-Lachaise Cemetery, known for its historical significance, is one of Paris’s most famous burial grounds, alongside Montmartre and Montparnasse cemeteries. Notable figures such as Oscar Wilde, Jim Morrison, and Frédéric Chopin rest in peace at Père-Lachaise.
The picturesque cobbled pathways of Père-Lachaise wind through approximately 70,000 graves, attracting millions of visitors annually. Montparnasse Cemetery is the final resting place of Jean-Paul Sartre and Susan Sontag, while Montmartre Cemetery houses the remains of Edgar Degas and Émile Zola. Paris authorities have identified 30 graves in need of restoration, with 10 in each of the three cemeteries.
In Paris, families are responsible for maintaining gravestones, leading to the neglect of some burial sites over time. Due to limited space within the historic graveyards, new burial spots are scarce. The initiative to involve the public in tombstone restoration serves as a balance between honoring the deceased and providing Parisians with the opportunity to be buried in their city.
The lottery draw, exclusive to Paris residents, is set to occur later this month. Interested participants must pay 125 euros to register, with winners required to invest 4,000 euros to secure the grave they will be preserving. Selected individuals will have six months to restore the designated dilapidated tombstone with approved stonemasons before being able to purchase a burial plot for approximately $28,000 for perpetual rights.
