Visiting the Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris, France, is a unique and unforgettable experience.
Explore the tombs and uncover the narratives they hold, guided by a native English speaker. The tour lasts approximately two and a half hours.
Walking along the green paths surrounded by trees, plants, and nature, you’ll come across the graves of people from all walks of life – the famous, the virtuous, the flawed, and the unjustly treated. Some of these individuals have left their mark on France and the world. As the tour concludes, you’ll pass by memorials dedicated to the innocent and wronged victims, serving as reminders and warnings for today.
What will you take from the Père Lachaise Cemetery tour?
Absorb the unmissable highlights of Père Lachaise Cemetery with an English-speaking tour by Max, a native English-speaking guide from Scotland.
See the tombs of well-known persons from all walks of life, faiths, ethnic backgrounds and professions, including the graves of famous artists like Oscar Wilde, Jim Morrison, Edith Piaf and others.
The British Press remarked that Père Lachaise Cemetery was open to all faiths ‘Here rest friend and foe – citizen and alien – the soldier and scholar, in one common asylum from the cares of life, Protestant, Catholic and even Jew alike’ noted the Morning Post approvingly in 1820.
Meet your Père Lachaise Cemetery tour guide
Max comes from Scotland and now lives in Paris. He has enjoyed a rich tapestry of life and has worked in different and diverse environments.
He is able to bring to your visit to Père Lachaise a love of the place and an ability to provide detailed information about Père Lachaise, its history, its purpose, its inhabitants, its architecture, its nature in a humorous and enriching manner.
Booking times for tours
March to October
Daily from 8 am to 5.30 pm
Cemetery closes at 5.30 pm
November to February
Daily from 9 am to 5.30 pm
Cemetery closes at 5 pm
How to get there
Information on how to get to Père Lachaise Cemetery can be found on the Tickets & Prices page.
Contact
Email: [email protected]
Tel: +44 7952 464 914
More highlights from the Père Lachaise Cemetery tour
English-speaking guide
Absorb the unmissable highlights of Père Lachaise with an English-speaking tour by Max, a native English-speaking guide from Scotland.
Tombs of famous people
See the tombs of well-known persons from all walks of life, faiths, ethnic backgrounds and professions, including the graves of famous artists like Oscar Wilde, Jim Morrison, Edith Piaf and others.
Beautiful funerary art
Contemplate the superb funerary art.
Interesting anecdotes
Hear anecdotes about famous people from different eras.
Explore myths & legends
You’ll have the chance to explore unique and artfully crafted tombs, some of which are steeped in superstitions, false hopes and fake legends.
A haven of wildlife
Admire the beauty of Père Lachaise Cemetery, host to more than 4,000 different species of plants and trees and home to many species of wildlife.
Two and a half hour walking tour
Embark on a two and a half hour walking tour that offers a brief glimpse into this timeless cemetery. Its purpose is to ignite your curiosity, leaving you eager to return and fully immerse yourself in this extraordinary location at your own pace.
Insights into a working cemetery
Learn about the unusual and distinctive layout of a living and working cemetery that makes it unique amongst cemeteries anywhere.
Learn about the history
Discover the story behind this living cemetery, established on May 21st, 1804, under challenging circumstances and out of sheer necessity. Over time, it has evolved into a resting place for over 70,000 graves, set within a wooded expanse that has grown from 17 hectares to 44 hectares.
"Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth."