Paris city hall is providing a unique opportunity to be buried among renowned artists from history. Interested individuals can enter a draw by paying a fee and showing a willingness to restore an old tombstone.
The registration deadline for the draw to acquire a burial spot in Paris’s famous cemeteries, such as Père-Lachaise, was on Wednesday. Winners will have the chance to renovate a neglected grave in exchange for the right to purchase a burial plot in the cemetery.
Père-Lachaise Cemetery is one of Paris’s most iconic burial grounds and globally recognized. It is one of the three major cemeteries in the city, along with Montmartre and Montparnasse. Notable figures laid to rest at Père-Lachaise include Oscar Wilde, Jim Morrison, and Frédéric Chopin.
The cemetery features cobblestone paths winding around approximately 70,000 graves on an eastern hill in Paris, attracting over three million visitors annually. Montparnasse Cemetery houses individuals like Jean-Paul Sartre and Susan Sontag, while Montmartre Cemetery is the final resting place of Edgar Degas and Émile Zola.
Paris city authorities have identified 30 graves in need of repair across the three cemeteries, with ten in each location. Families are typically responsible for maintaining gravestones, leading to some graves becoming neglected with time.
Due to limited burial space in historic graveyards, new plots are scarce in Paris, as the cemeteries within the city limits have been nearly full since the early 20th century. To address this challenge, Paris officials have initiated a program inviting the public to restore tombstones, striking a balance between honoring the deceased and offering residents burial opportunities within the city.
The lottery draw, currently open to residents of Paris, is set to occur later this month. Registration costs 125 euros, and winners must pay 4,000 euros to secure and restore the allocated grave. Participants selected will have six months to work with approved stonemasons on the restoration before being able to purchase the grave, which will cost approximately $28,000 for perpetual rights.