Père-Lachaise is the largest cemetery in Paris. It's home to the ashes of famous scientists, writers and artists, military men and politicians.
Now Père-Lachaise is one of the world's most famous burial grounds. In the Middle Ages. it was a poor criminal neighbourhood on the outskirts of the capital. Then. it became a monastery. The land became the property of the Jesuits, one of whom. one of whom was Louis XIV's confessor, François de la Chaise. The name of the cemetery (Pere Lashaise) literally translates as "Father la Chaise".
The land was acquired by the city in 1804. At first, Parisians did not to bury their relatives in the middle of nowhere. The authorities took the unconventional step: they reburied here the remains of La Fontaine, Molière, Abelard and his pupil Heloise. This had the effect of making the cemetery prestigious.
In 1814, the troops of the anti-Napoleonic coalition entered Paris. Young people tried to barricade their way in. At Père Lachaise, the Russians were resisted. by cadets from the military school. The Cossacks bayoneted them and set up their own camp in the cemetery. camp in the cemetery.
Today there are more than one million dead buried at Père Lachaise, including celebrities. More than two million people visit the cemetery every year. Wandering here is extremely interesting, but it should be remembered that the cemetery is remarkably chaotic. is remarkably chaotic in its layout. Some of the graves can be difficult to find.
Famous Russians also rest on Père-Lachaise: Decembrist Turgenev, Princess Troubetzkaya, Demidovs. In the local columbarium - urns with the ashes of Sergei Yesenin and Nestor Makhno. Nestor Makhno. Entrance to the territory is free and free of charge.
