Ever wondered about the stories held within these grounds? We are standing at the Nouveau cimetière de Champigny-sur-Marne. This cemetery is more than just a final resting place. It is a reflection of the community’s history.
Champigny-sur-Marne has three communal cemeteries. There are the Ancien and Nouveau cemeteries in the city center. Also, there is the Coeuilly cemetery. These cemeteries serve people who lived or died in Champigny. They also serve those with family concessions. French citizens living abroad and registered on the town’s electoral rolls can use them.
The Nouveau cimetière de Champigny-sur-Marne is linked to the Ancien cimetière. The Ancien cimetière has a rich history. Originally, cemeteries were near parish churches. This was the case in Champigny near the Saint-Saturnin church.
In 1776, royal authorities began considering moving cemeteries. They wanted them away from homes for hygiene and space reasons. By 1785, the cemetery moved outside the village. This is roughly where it stands today near the Chemin des Courtilles. This move faced protests.
During the Revolution in 1791, a national guard’s body was buried in the old cemetery. People wanted to move the new cemetery back to the church. Authorities were worried about this unauthorized move. They tried to persuade the parish but failed.
Around 1835, half a century later, the cemetery returned to its 1785 location. Cemeteries outside the city became normal. People accepted this. The cemetery gradually expanded. After the Battle of Champigny in 1871, the damaged wall was repaired. The cemetery grew with the village. The municipality acquired land southward toward Grande Rue. This is now Rue Roger-Salengro.
After World War II, the city rapidly grew. It became impossible to expand the existing cemetery. A new one was created opposite the old one. That is the Nouveau cimetière de Champigny-sur-Marne. Urban development has now integrated the cemetery back into the city.
In 1974, a third cemetery opened. It is called the Coeuilly cemetery. It was built on part of a former shantytown along Avenue Maurice-Thorez. It includes a columbarium. This building has niches for urns. It also features a garden of remembrance.
The Nouveau cimetière shares rules with the others. A decree from 1804 greatly impacted cemetery management in France. Some measures still apply today. Common graves were removed. Individual burials became mandatory.
Today, funeral obligations fall to the municipality. The mayor manages the cemetery. They ensure order and decency. They also oversee burials, exhumations, cremations and body transportation.
Interactive kiosks were installed in June 2023. These kiosks provide information about the cemeteries. They show opening hours and maps. You can explore the history and find notable graves. They also help locate specific funeral concessions.
Look closely at the graves around us. Consider the lives of those resting here. Each marker represents a story. The Nouveau cimetière de Champigny-sur-Marne is a place of remembrance. It is a testament to the enduring human spirit.