About six years ago I accompanied a friend on an expedition to Montmartre Cemetery. I remember discovering a new world of stained glass windows inside decrepit cemetery chapels, ceramic and metal wreaths adorned with pastel colored flowers and leaves, tombstones enrobed in moss, cobwebs weaved on crosses, and fresh and withered flowers left by loved ones.
I vowed I would someday return and I finally did last month. It was quite a struggle getting to the cemetery that day, as all car traffic and many of the metros were closed in the city center because of the memorial march for the superstar rocker and cultural national treasure Johnny Hallyday.
Once I arrived, I sighed in relief, greatly appreciating the unique serenity that cemeteries offer. It was a frosty but sunny day in early December and the cemetery was mostly deserted, save for a few tourists. Dead leaves were strewn all around along with pots of mums sometimes overturned, creating a somber mood.
Instead of just immediately snapping photos as I always do, I walked slowly, taking everything in, patiently waiting for the right moment, something to wake up my senses and connect myself to the place I was in, rather than aimlessly take photos.
Here are the results and I would love your feedback.
I want to thank my friends Mary Gilbert and Phil Nuxhall for first introducing me to the world of cemeteries in 2008. Mary was a blog fan and was coming to Paris from Cincinnati with her close friend Phil. Mary and Phil are cemetery enthusiasts and are docents at the Spring Grove Cemetery. In fact, Phil has written two books about the cemetery. They invited me to join them in visiting the St. Genevieve-des-Bois Cemetery, a Russian Orthodox cemetery outside of Paris where Rudolf Nureyev is buried. I will never forget that special day and again thanks to Mary and Phil for helping me expand my visual horizons.
Click here to read the blog about St. Genevieve-des-Bois Cemetery.
Come experience Eye Prefer Paris live with Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3-hour walking tours I personally lead. Eye Prefer Paris Tours include many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes, food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks and gardens and much more. In addition to my specialty Marais Tour, I also lead tours of Montmartre, St. Germain, Latin Quarter, in addition to Shopping Tours, Gay Tours, Girlfriend Tours, Food Tours, Flea Market Tours, Paris Highlights Tours, and Chocolate & Pastry tours.
Tours start at 225 euros for up to 3 people, and 75 euros for each additional person. I look forward to meeting you on my tours and it will be my pleasure and delight to show you my insiders Paris.
Check it out at www.eyepreferparistours.com
Click here to watch a video of our famous Marais tour
Beautifully done, Richard. Reminds me of my own wanderings there. Were the cats wintering there?
Posted by: Judy W | January 11, 2018 at 08:32 PM
Great Photos Richard...you really captured the details. I hope that your readers will take an hour to visit at least 1 of the remarkable Paris Cemeteries.
I always recommend Passy Cemetery for the "cemetery skittish" - it's small and convenient to the Tour Eiffel.
Richard is an excellent guide - I recommend him often!
Salut,
Mary Gilbert
Posted by: Mary R Gilbert | January 12, 2018 at 11:34 PM