“Tranquility in stone.” That is the feeling you get when you arrive here at the Cimetière de l’Est in Lille. This isn’t just any burial ground. The Cimetière de l’Est is a place of history art and peaceful reflection.
Created in 1779 the Cimetière de l’Est is one of France’s most beautiful cemeteries. Only Père Lachaise in Paris is considered more impressive. Covering 22 hectares it holds about 36000 graves. The Cimetière de l’Est is more than a final resting place.
Many prominent figures from Lille’s history rest here. Among them are former mayors Pierre Mauroy and Roger Salengro. Their presence adds to the cemetery’s historical significance. The Coustenoble-Dujardin family also has a notable space. Their ancient vault may contain up to 150 people. They wished their former park to retain its landscaping character.
As you wander you will notice the artistic and architectural treasures. The Cimetière de l’Est reflects diverse cultural influences. Although mainly Catholic the cemetery includes Jewish and Muslim sections. Tombs of Chinese Japanese and Turkish individuals are also present. Look closely and you might spot Freemason symbols.
The city of Lille maintains the Cimetière de l’Est. Private landscaping companies also help preserve its beauty. It is a haven for urban biodiversity. Squirrels wild cats and various birds call this place home. You will see diverse flora including fruit trees like persimmon and walnut. Linden trees also thrive here.
The Cimetière de l’Est includes a pond areas of late mowing and dead trunks for insects. There are even beehives on the sanitary facilities near the Porte du Ballon entrance.
The Cimetière de l’Est has three entrances. These are Porte du Ballon Porte de Muy and Rue des Vicaires. The Porte du Ballon entrance has a reception area. Here you can find maps and lists of notable people buried here.
In 2024 Anne Hadoux-Decroo published a guide to the Cimetière de l’Est. It highlights 100 prominent people buried here. The Cimetière de l’Est holds the remains of painter Alfred Agache and architect Albert Baert. Geologist Charles Barrois is also interred here.
The Cimetière de l’Est also hosts organist Jean Boyer and sculptor Charles Buisine-Rigot. Clarinetist Ferdinand Capelle and painter Alphonse Colas rest here. Sculptor Albert Darcq and cellist Maurice Darcq are also buried here. Political figures like Charles Debierre and Henri Ghesquière are present.
Luthier Joseph Hel painter Auguste-Joseph Herlin and flutist Jules Herman also rest here. You can also find sculptor Jean Joire and glassmaker Alfred Labille. Medical professor Oscar Lambret and resistance fighter Augustin Laurent are interred here.
The Cimetière de l’Est holds journalist Géry Legrand and architect Charles Marteau. Engineer Alfred Mongy and General François de Négrier are also here. Composer Émile Ratez and singer Edmond Riquier-Delaunay also found their final place here. Spy Léon Trulin and cellist Élisa de Try are also buried here. Industrialists Philibert Vrau and Auguste-César Wallaert rest here too.
The Cimetière de l’Est is open daily. Visiting hours are from 8 AM to 5 PM with the last entry at 4:30 PM. As you leave take a moment to appreciate this place. The Cimetière de l’Est is a reminder of life history and the stories etched in stone.