Posted on 10/31/2011 4:42:08 PM PDT by patriot08
THE CREEPIEST, SCARIEST PLACE ON EARTH
(not a joke)
Père Lachaise Cemetery
Paris France
In Pictures...
The grave of American Jim Morrison, the most iconic frontmen in rock music history, draws the most visitors.
His ghost and the ghosts of others are frequently reported at Père Lachaise.
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Père Lachaise virtual tour
Video- A walk through of the most famous cemetery in the world
Today, the Cimetière du Père Lachaise is home to "permanent Parisians"--and a sprinkling of foreigners--from all walks of life, with graves and tombs organized neatly into 97 divisions that are separated by cobblestoned, tree-lined (5,300 trees) walkways.
More than two million people from all over the world come to Pere-Lachaise each year, to walk its nearly 109 acres consisting of tens of thousands of monuments, many of which are dedicated to some of the world's greatest names in the arts, sciences, literature and of course history.
Here's just a sample:
Chopin, Edith Piaf, Isadora Duncan, Jim Morrison, Gertrude Stein, Alice Toklas, Heloise and Abelard, Sarah Bernhardt, Bizet, Moliere, La Fontaine, Murat, Marcel Proust, Colette, Oscar Wilde, Marcel Marceau, Jean-Pierre Aumont, Maria Callas, Yves Montand, Simone Signoret, Modigliani, Francois Poulenc, Camille Pissaro, Cherubini, Breguet (yes the watch guy), Lalique (the glass guy), Michel Petrucciani, Auguste Comte, Champollion, Samuel Hahnemann, Gustave Dore, Antoine Parmentier, Balzac, Delacroix, Merleau-Ponty, Georges Melies, Apollinaire, Stephane Grappelli, Richard Wright, Auguste Blanqui
There are also some of the most powerful and poignant memorials to the tens of thousands of French Jews deported to Nazi death camps, virtually all of whom perished.
Today being buried here is considered to be a great privilege as the cemetery runs out of space. Over 300,000 people are buried there. It is said that the smallest plot at Père Lachaise can go for a million euros. (About $1.25 million )
It is also home to an estimated 300- 400 LIVING cats.
Père Lachaise high points:
Did you see that picture of the tomb broken into?
There are a few more like that there.
Nope. I’ve never been to France. I’ve elevated it on my lifetime list because I’d like to see Notre Dame before it’s converted into a mosque.
Didn’t Morrison say he would come back?
Seems I read that once somewhere.
Well, for quite a while he was married with children...
For me, personally, I just think he was one of the greatest writers the English language has ever known.
Sometimes he’s a bit over the top. But I still cannot read “Salome’s Last Dance” without my jaw dropping to the floor...
He was brilliant and died way, way too young...
Gay or not, I can easily see women kissing his gravestone.
Thanks. I’m not too familiar with him.
I’ll read some more of his stuff.
Sad story - thanks for sharing.
“Nov 1 in the Philippines is something to behold.”
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Gosh, I had totally forgotten that it is All Saints day, and my girl has not even mentioned it.
I guess we will be going there this afternoon.
I saw one but I didn’t take a picture of it. There were far, far creepier statues made up there. There was even one where the vine engulfs a woman in a strangle position..and it was the entire statue. Damn frogs are screwed up.
Thanks for posting this. It was fascinating, and perfect for Halloween.
Thank you very much.
:)
‘I’ve never been to France. I’ve elevated it on my lifetime list because I’d like to see Notre Dame before it’s converted into a mosque.’
LOL Clever and very true.
I have been to Pere LeChaise and am a co-author of a book of it.
I have kissed the tomb of Oscar Wilde which was the first reason I went there. (I am Irish) The lipstick is not so thick as you can cut it with a knife. The oils in the lipstick do stain the marble and Oscar’s great great nephew is fighting to keep people from kissing the grave.
I could give tours of the place and know many of the in-depth stories of the tombs due to all of the experts that I went with when contributing to the book.
It’s a fascinating and beautiful place. It’s full of wonderful and interesting stories that I treasure.
Wow. Really?
I’d like to read that book.
I read once that it’s also a great place to collect snails for escargot. They climb up on the stones and you can fill a bucket quickly.
After all it is where the Corpse of the Constitution is defiled year after year.
Really?
EEW LOL
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