Paris Cemetery Offers Lottery for Burial Near Famous Figures
The Pere Lachaise cemetery in Paris, known as the final resting place of iconic personalities such as Jim Morrison, Oscar Wilde, and Frédéric Chopin, is offering a unique opportunity. The organization managing this historic site is allowing people to buy burial plots near these celebrated figures.
Historic Cemeteries Involved
- Pere Lachaise: Home to Jim Morrison, Oscar Wilde, Marcel Marceau, and Chopin
- Montparnasse: Contains the graves of Jean-Paul Sartre and Jacques Chirac
- Montmartre: Houses remains of impressionist Edgar Degas and royal executioner Charles-Henri Sanson
How the Sale Works
Thirty gravestones across these cemeteries are currently in poor condition and are available for purchase at €4,000 (about $4,500). Buyers must restore the monuments and then acquire the burial plot adjacent to the grave they renovate. Due to strong interest, officials will conduct a lottery to determine who can buy the plots. The draw is scheduled for January.
Paris city officials explained this approach as a way to balance respect for the deceased with the practical need for city residents to be buried within Paris, where available space is very limited.
People’s fascination with resting near cultural icons fuels this rare chance to join history in eternal rest.
Author’s summary: Paris cemeteries are offering a lottery to renew neglected graves near famous figures, allowing enthusiasts to secure burial plots by restoring monuments.