Paris Cemetery Offers Lottery for Burial Near Famous Icons
Fans eager to be laid to rest alongside legends like Jim Morrison, Oscar Wilde, and Frédéric Chopin now have a unique opportunity in Paris. The Pere Lachaise cemetery, known for sheltering some of history’s most celebrated figures, is opening a chance to purchase burial plots near these icons.
Historic Cemeteries and Notable Residents
- Pere Lachaise: Final resting place of Jim Morrison (The Doors), Oscar Wilde, Marcel Marceau, and Chopin.
- Montparnasse: Contains graves of Jean-Paul Sartre and Jacques Chirac.
- Montmartre: Home to impressionist painter Edgar Degas and Charles-Henri Sanson, who executed Louis XVI.
Lottery Sale of Restoration-Required Grave Plots
The cemetery authority has identified thirty gravestones in need of repair available for purchase at €4,000 (around $4,500). Prospective buyers must restore the monuments and purchase the adjacent burial plot to claim the spot.
“Offering eternal rest next to the stars is a compromise,” city officials explained, “that respects the dead and allows residents to be buried within the city, where space is scarce.”
Due to high demand, the sale will be conducted through a lottery, with the drawing set for January.
Summary
This unique lottery lets devoted fans secure burial spots beside legendary figures, preserving heritage while addressing limited city cemetery space.
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