Located in the South End of Paris, the Cimetiere du Montparnasse is the burial ground for some of the city’s most illustrious personalities. Existential playwright and author Jean Paul Sartre is buried here, as is the father of symbolism and Dionysian poetry, Charles Baudelaire, to name only a couple. The cemetery is a Paris landmark and is spread out for more than 1,800 acres, the third-largest cemetery in the city. Laid out in 1824, it is one of the most aesthetic gravesites in the world and the counterpart to Paris’ Cimetiere du Montmartre, located in Paris’ North end. Montparnasse also is surrounded by numerous other city attractions. The Jardin du Luxembourg and the Pantheon are just a few blocks north, and the Observatoire de Paris is only a couple blocks to the east. ---words and photos by Michael Rando.

Cimetiere du Montparnasse is open November 6 – March 15, Monday - Friday 8am to 5:30pm, Saturday 8:30am to 5:30pm, Sundays and public holidays 9am to 5.30pm. March 16 – November 5, Monday - Friday 8am to 6pm, Saturday 8:30am to 6pm, Sundays and public holidays 9am to 6pm. Last admission is fifteen minutes before closing time.

Riding the Metro? Your nearest stop is RASPAIL.