Montparnasse Cemetery is a 19-hectare burial ground in Paris’s 14th arrondissement, known for its quiet paths, distinctive tombs and notable residents. It opened in 1824 and is the city’s second-largest cemetery after Père Lachaise. Find the graves of writers and thinkers including Charles Baudelaire, Samuel Beckett, Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir, then look closely at the stone carvings and wrought-iron doors. Bring a map if you have specific graves in mind; the grounds are large, and not every important burial is easy to locate.
A cemetery opened in 1824
Montparnasse Cemetery opened in 1824 and covers 19 hectares in Paris’s 14th arrondissement. It is the city’s second-largest cemetery, after Père Lachaise. Around 35,000 plots fill its grounds, from simple graves to elaborate tombs and mausoleums.
The paths wind between trees and rows of monuments. Look out for wrought-iron doors, carved stone details and tall, narrow mausoleums. The cemetery is carefully maintained, and its landscaped grounds give the walk a calm pace amid the city.
Writers, artists and public figures
The cemetery is the burial place of people from literary, artistic, political and intellectual life. Among its best-known residents are poets Charles Baudelaire and Guy de Maupassant, playwright Samuel Beckett, and writers and philosophers Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir. Julio Cortázar is also buried here.
Other graves belong to sculptor Constantin Brancusi, photographer Man Ray, singer Serge Gainsbourg, industrialist André Citroën and Alfred Dreyfus, the French army captain at the centre of the Dreyfus Affair. The range of names reflects the cemetery’s many periods and communities. Iranian political figures and artists are also buried here, including Shapour Bakhtiar, Ali Amini and Fereydoun Hoveyda.
Finding a particular grave
The cemetery’s size can make a specific grave hard to find. Some notable burials are not marked on online maps, and rows of tombs can be easy to pass. Study a cemetery map before setting out, and look for posted plot maps within the grounds. Security staff can also help direct you.
If you have a particular person in mind, plan your route before you arrive. If you do not, the paths and monuments make a walk through the cemetery itself worthwhile. Give yourself time to move slowly and read the names and inscriptions rather than treating it as a quick stop.
Perguntas frequentes
Who is buried at Montparnasse Cemetery?
Notable burials include Charles Baudelaire, Samuel Beckett, Jean-Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, Julio Cortázar, Man Ray and Serge Gainsbourg.
How do you find a specific grave?
Check a cemetery map before entering, look for posted plot maps, or ask security staff for help. Some notable graves are not marked on online maps.
How long should you spend at Montparnasse Cemetery?
Allow around two to three hours if you want time to explore the grounds and look for specific graves.
Is Montparnasse Cemetery wheelchair accessible?
The cemetery has a wheelchair-accessible entrance and wheelchair-accessible parking.
