Père Lachaise
The Vibe
Romantic melancholy above the rooftops—a neighborhood where the dead are more famous than the living, but the living get on with excellent coffee and market shopping. The cemetery draws pilgrims; the surrounding streets absorb them into everyday Paris. Quieter by night, contemplative by day.
Description
The 20th arrondissement hilltop quarter centered on the world's most visited cemetery—90 acres of cobblestone lanes, funerary sculpture, and famous graves from Jim Morrison to Édith Piaf to Oscar Wilde. The surrounding neighborhood around Avenue Gambetta and Rue de la Roquette hosts communities. Vietnamese and African restaurants alternate with wine bars and old-fashioned bistros. The cemetery itself opened in 1804 and holds over 300,000 permanent residents. Outside its walls, quiet residential streets slope downward through distinctly local territory that sees far fewer tourists than the cemetery gates suggest.
Neighborhood Stats
Popular With
- History Buffs
- Pilgrims
- Expats
- Photographers
- Locals
Key Attributes
- Famous Cemetery
- Residential
- International
- Hilltop
- Authentic
Food Scene
Le Grand Bain (14 Rue Denoyez) in Belleville nearby blends natural wine and inventive small plates. Café des Anges (66 Rue de la Roquette) anchors the lower slopes with reliable bistro food. Les Trois 8 (11 Rue Victor Letalle) masters natural wine. Okko Hotels restaurant serves contemporary French. Pho Banh Mi Hanoi (31 Rue de Belleville) provides Vietnamese comfort.