France Burial Lottery: Chance to Be Buried Near Famous Figures
Parisians have a unique opportunity to be interred beside renowned personalities in prestigious cemeteries such as Père-Lachaise, Montparnasse, and Montmartre. The City of Paris has initiated a lottery giving residents a chance to secure burial plots next to famous individuals, including legendary artists like Jim Morrison of The Doors, writer Oscar Wilde, and iconic French singer Édith Piaf.
Lottery Details and Process
Due to limited burial space and increasing demand, the Paris city council will organize a lottery to allocate plots in these overcrowded cemeteries. Ten gravestones in each cemetery are available for purchase at €4,000 each. Winners must restore the gravestones to claim their burial spot. The lottery winner will be announced by January 2026.
Responsibilities and Costs for Winners
- The new plot owner is responsible for arranging the burial.
- Burial costs start from €976 for 10 years or €17,668 for perpetual rights.
- If the owner fails to maintain these responsibilities, they forfeit the burial plot and any deposited funds.
Eligibility and Historical Context
This lottery is open exclusively to residents of Paris. The tradition of famous figures’ burial sites attracting attention was notably influenced by Hollywood star Marilyn Monroe, who, despite facing criticism during her life, popularized the trend of visiting celebrity graves.
"There is a finite amount of burial land and an infinite amount of dead people. So wrap up the competition," said Paris city council regarding the lottery.
Author's summary: Paris offers residents a rare chance to win burial plots next to iconic personalities through a lottery, reflecting challenges of limited cemetery space and maintaining historic graves.