Whispers of history linger here. This is the Cimetière du Montparnasse. The second largest necropolis in Paris. It sprawls across 19 hectares a green space in the heart of the city. Opened in 1824 it replaced older overcrowded cemeteries within the city walls. Concerns about sanitation necessitated the move. The Cimetière du Montparnasse became the final resting place for Parisians from the Left Bank.
Initially known as the Cimetière du Sud the South Cemetery. It is more than just a cemetery. It is a living museum of art and history. A verdant landscape filled with over 1200 trees of forty different species. The Cimetière du Montparnasse’s symmetrical layout is peaceful. Tree lined avenues create a tranquil atmosphere. Visitors stroll its paths. They seek the final resting places of famous artists and writers.
Many notable figures rest here. The great Serge Gainsbourg whose grave is covered in tributes. Cigarettes metro tickets even cabbages. Or Marguerite Duras whose grave holds pens planted in a saucer. Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir share a grave. It is famously covered in kisses. These are just a few of the countless stories held within the walls of the Cimetière du Montparnasse. The Cimetière du Montparnasse is a poignant reminder of life and mortality.
The old Moulin de la Charit\u00e9 is a striking landmark. It once served as a guinguette a dance hall and cabaret. Today it is the caretaker’s residence. A testament to the cemetery’s past. The Cimetière du Montparnasse also holds sculptures. Two by Niki de Saint Phalle stand out. The Cat and the Bird celebrate her friendship with those buried there. Brancusi’s Le Baiser hides behind metal protection. It protects this modernist sculpture from the desire of some to sell it.
Even today the Cimetière du Montparnasse continues to receive burials. Approximately 1000 people a year find their final resting place here. Over 35000 graves tombs and plots fill this remarkable Parisian landmark. The Cimetière du Montparnasse is more than just a cemetery. It is a green space a historical site and an open-air museum. It is a place of reflection memory and beauty.