Paris Cemetery Offers Lottery for Burial Near Famous Figures
The Pere Lachaise cemetery in Paris, known as the resting place of cultural icons like Jim Morrison, Oscar Wilde, Marcel Marceau, and Frédéric Chopin, is opening a unique opportunity for fans and residents. The cemetery authority is offering burial plots near these legendary figures through a lottery system.
Historic Cemeteries Included in the Offer
In addition to Pere Lachaise, plots are also available in other historic Parisian cemeteries:
- Montparnasse — resting place of Jean-Paul Sartre and Jacques Chirac
- Montmartre — where impressionist Edgar Degas and royal executioner Charles-Henri Sanson are buried
Conditions and Pricing
Thirty gravestones in need of repair from these cemeteries can be purchased for €4,000 (around $4,500). Buyers are required to restore the monuments they acquire and then purchase the adjacent burial plot.
Lottery System Due to Demand
"Due to overwhelming demand, officials plan to run the sale as a lottery. The drawing will be held in January."
City officials describe this approach as a balanced solution that honors the legacy of the deceased while addressing the limited burial space available within Paris.
"Offering eternal rest next to the stars is a compromise that both respects the dead and lets residents be buried within the city."
The initiative reflects the strong cultural attachment to these cemeteries and the celebrities interred there, combining preservation efforts with community needs.
Author’s summary: Paris cemeteries now offer burial plots near famous personalities through a lottery, requiring buyers to restore historic gravestones, balancing heritage preservation and limited space.