“Considérant que le cimetière se trouve dans le milieu du village” These words from a 1792 council meeting echo through the centuries. They speak of the old cemetery of Garches a place deemed unsanitary and disrespectful. We stand now before the Cimetière de Garches its current location a testament to the long struggle for a fitting resting place for the town’s residents.
The Cimetière de Garches as we see it today is relatively recent. It only opened in the first half of the 19th century. Before that the town’s dead were buried in a much smaller less convenient location. This wasn’t just a matter of finding more space. The old cemetery was right in the middle of the village. Imagine the smells the constant passage of people and animals. It was deemed a health hazard.
The initial plan to move the Cimetière de Garches was met with resistance. The relocation was discussed in 1792. The council considered reclaiming national property on the road to La Celle-Saint-Cloud. That plan however fell through. The debate resurfaced in 1801 with similar objections. Some townsfolk argued the expense was too high. Others felt the old location was perfectly acceptable. “It has always been there” they declared. The mayor believed the government might cover the cost. That hope proved unfounded.
Thirty years later in 1832 the need for a new Cimetière de Garches remained. A concrete proposal emerged. The council proposed buying land in “Bois Barronier” from the Hospices de Paris. This required a special tax. The vote was contentious. Former mayor Jean-Baptiste Sevin opposed the move citing the distance and the financial burden. Vigneron Vincent Totin however advocated for the change emphasizing the urgency. He described seeing unburied bodies during excavations. He praised the chosen land for its sandy soil that would ensure quick decomposition.
Following the citizens’ approval royal consent was needed. King Louis-Philippe finally signed off in 1833. The transfer of bodies to the new Cimetière de Garches took place in 1834. The exact location of the old cemetery is unclear. It was probably at the heart of the village. Perhaps it was replaced by a tree-lined public square.
The Cimetière de Garches you see before you is more than just a graveyard. It’s a quiet chronicle of Garches’ history. It’s the final resting place for notable figures including Henri Bergson Guy Béart Jacqueline Delubac and Sidney Bechet. Take a moment to reflect on the lives lived and the stories buried within. The Cimetière de Garches holds these stories and many more. Each tombstone a chapter in this town’s enduring narrative.