Where was the oldest burial ground in Paris?
T hat’s a tricky question since people have been buried in what is now Paris since prehistoric times. The largest, and most famous of all burial grounds, was the medieval Cimetière des Saints Innocents, right in the heart of the city, where Les Halles is today. It no longer exists.

Is it possible to be buried in a Paris cemetery if you're not French?
Marie B., one of the founders of the Friends of Pere Lachaise says "Unfortunately, the rules to be buried in a Paris cemetery are rather strict: people may be buried in one of these cemeteries if (and only if) they die in the French capital city or if they lived there. Being buried in Pere-Lachaise is even more difficult nowadays as there is a waiting list: very few plots are available. However, I suppose ashes could be scattered in Pere Lachaise's Garden of Remembrance. You should write to the following address."

PERE LACHAISE
8, boulevard de Ménilmontant
75020 Paris
FRANCE

Why are there no cemeteries in the first 11 arrondissements?
These arrondissements used to be scattered with many small churchyards which disappeared at the end of the 18th century as they had become overcrowded and thus deemed unsanitary. Burial inside the city then became illegal (with a few exceptions). The remaining 9 arrondissements were not part of Paris until 1860.

What became of the bodies when the city cemeteries closed?
They were removed to the Catacombes during the late 18th and early 19th centuries and can be visited today.

What are the burial practices in Paris cemeteries?
Like anywhere else in France, people are buried in coffins which are placed in family or individual graves. Plots can be bought in perpetuity, for 50, 30 or 10 years, the latter being the least expensive option. Even in the case of mausoleums and chapels, coffins are most of the time below ground. As in the rest of the world, cremation is more and more popular; people can either keep the urn at home, scatter the ashes or buy a niche in a columbarium.

What happens to all the remains from the abandoned gravesites?
Abandoned remains are boxed, tagged and moved to Aux Morts ossuary, in Père-Lachaise cemetery.

How does the grave recycling process work exactly?
If a grave has not been tended in a while, it is declared abandoned. The Conservation puts a tag on the grave and tries to contact the family but if they can’t reach them (which is often the case after a hundred years), they just take over the plot, clean it and resell it. This procedure usually takes between 2 and 4 years.

Are burials still stacked one on top of the other?
Yes. Most family plots being no more than 2 or 3 square meters, coffins have to be put one on top of the other. Shelves are usually fitted out to accommodate them.

How accurate are the existing guide maps?
Metropolitain Editions is the best, most thorough, exhaustive and accurate. And it is updated regularly.

Can anyone have access to burial records?
No. Access to records is permitted only to family. And you have to be able to prove your connection to the first owner of the plot!

What are the caveaux provisoires scattered around the cemetery used for?
The various caveaux provisoires found throughout Pere-Lachaise and in other cemeteries as well are used by local undertakers for provisional interments until grave is ready.

Can anyone be buried in the older crypts or chapels?.
No. Only people related to the first owner of the plot can be buried in it. Occasionally, friends of the family can also be buried with them.

Are photographs permitted in the cemeteries?
Since graves are considered private property, it is forbidden to take pictures of them. Yet, photographs are widely tolerated in Père-Lachaise, Montmartre and Montparnasse.

Is it expensive to be buried in Paris cemeteries?
It is fairly expensive of course but the price is the same in all Parisian cemeteries. The most expensive option is of course buying a plot in perpetuity: 5256.5€ for 1 square meter. If you only buy a plot for ten years (the minimum allowed), it will cost you 331€ for one square meter. To this must be added the cost of the monument. (Prices accurate as of 2010.)

I see the words ci-git and dite quite a lot on headstones. What do they mean?
Ci-git is a shortened version of an Old French phrase meaning "here lies" or "here rests", while dite simply means "known as" or also called", and usually refers to someone who was known by a particular nickname while alive.

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