Cimetières de la Guillotière

Established in 1822, the Cimetières de la Guillotière whispers tales of Lyon’s past. Originally serving the then-separate commune of La Guillotière, it became Lyon’s primary resting place after the commune merged with the city in 1852. The older section of the Cimetières de la Guillotière, nestled along Boulevard des Tchécoslovaques, offers a glimpse into Lyon’s history. Ancient tombs of prominent families like Jean Janin de Combe Blanche, the Babolat family, Rivoire et Carret, and the Monnoyer family rest here. Their stories intertwine with the city’s growth, their legacies etched in stone. A stark contrast unfolds as you approach the newer part of the cemetery, where modern sepulchers from the 1980s stand. This juxtaposition creates a captivating dialogue between eras within the Cimetières de la Guillotière. It’s a place where two distinct identities coexist, each telling a unique chapter of Lyon’s story. But the story of the Cimetières de la Guillotière doesn’t end there. The need for burial space in a rapidly expanding city led to the creation of a “new” cemetery in 1859 just south of the old one, across the bustling Avenue Berthelot and the railway lines. This new addition, designed by Joseph Gay with concentric pathways, boasts impressive monuments and the final resting places of luminaries like the Lumière brothers, Marius Berliet, and Jacques Martin. A visit to the Cimetières de la Guillotière is a journey through time, a poignant reminder of the lives that shaped Lyon. From the old to the new, the stories embedded within these grounds offer a unique lens through which to view the city’s rich tapestry of history.