Père-Lachaise: Paris Launches Lottery for Burial Plots
Parisians now have the opportunity to win burial spots in the world-famous cemeteries of Père-Lachaise, Montparnasse, and Montmartre through a new monument restoration initiative.
Burial Spots Among Famous Artists
The city offers burial places alongside renowned figures such as Jim Morrison of the Doors, author Oscar Wilde, and legendary French singer Édith Piaf. This unique lottery allows residents to secure a grave in some of Paris's most historic cemeteries.
Restoration Scheme and Conditions
Paris has introduced a lottery aimed at renovating funerary monuments in the congested cemeteries of Père-Lachaise, Montparnasse, and Montmartre. Ten gravestones that require repairs at each cemetery are available for €4,000 (£3,500) each.
- Purchasers must restore the gravestones they acquire.
- They must also obtain a burial plot adjacent to the restored monument.
Council's Perspective
"The scheme presents a compromise between respecting the dead and giving residents a chance to be buried within the city."
Currently, there are very few burial plots left within Paris city limits, as most cemeteries have been full since the early 20th century.
Challenges in Cemetery Maintenance
Maintenance of graves and monuments falls to families, not the city. This sometimes leads to graves being neglected and falling into disrepair.
However, since these cemeteries are protected heritage sites, removing abandoned monuments is complicated.
Goals of the New Programme
Unanimously approved by the Paris council in April, the program aims to both restore historic monuments and offer better access to burial spaces within the city’s famous cemeteries.
Author's summary: Paris's lottery for burial plots in historic cemeteries combines monument restoration with scarce burial opportunities, balancing heritage preservation with residents' needs.