Cemetery Montmartre: Where the Dead Get the Best Views

Updated 6/19/25

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The overcrowding at Paris’s main cemetery, Cimitière des Innocents, reached a gory climax in 1780 when the wall of a mass grave gave way, spilling decomposing bodies into the basement of a nearby building. That was it. Game over for the centuries-old burial ground.

Located in the 1st arrondissement, the cemetery had long been a health hazard thanks to its massive concentration of bodies packed in close to the living. After six centuries of steadily adding to the pile, the city finally said “non.”

In a scene worthy of a horror film, the remains were exhumed and moved. For two years, black-veiled carts rumbled through the streets of Paris by night, led by chanting priests. Their eerie destination? An abandoned quarry in the 14th arrondissement—now famously known as the Catacombs of Paris.

Once the job was done, Cimitière des Innocents was demolished.

You can read more about this huge undertaking and see some cool pictures in this article by Marilyn Brouwer in Bonjour Paris, The Insider’s Guide.

New Cemeteries Are Born

After the closure of Cimitière des Innocents, Paris still had dozens of parish graveyards scattered around. But it wasn’t enough. City leaders realized they needed more space for the ever-growing number of newly dead and they wanted those spaces well away from the crowded city center.

The solution? Four large cemeteries were established just outside the city limits, each in a different direction: Montmartre to the north, Montparnasse to the south, Père Lachaise to the east, and Passy to the west.

Père Lachaise was the first of the four new cemeteries to open, welcoming its first residents in 1804, about 25 years after the closure of Cimitière des Innocents.

Facts About Cemetery Montmartre

Montmartre Cemetery, officially known as Cimetière du Nord, opened its gates on January 1, 1825, in Paris’s 18th Arrondissement.

Before it got its official name, the cemetery was called Cimetière des Grandes Carrières, or Cemetery of the Large Quarries. Why do things always sound more elegant in French?

It was established on the site of an abandoned gypsum quarry that had seen darker days. It served as a mass grave during the French Revolution. The fact that it started as a literal hole in the ground explains its unusual topography.

Spanning 10.5 hectares (25 acres), Montmartre is the third-largest cemetery in Paris, after the more famous Père Lachaise and Montparnasse.

In 1888, a bridge, the Pont de Caulaincourt was built over part of the cemetery. The original plan was to relocate any graves beneath it, but some families weren’t having it, so the bridge was built over the burial sites instead.

The cemetery has always had just one entrance, tucked under Rue Caulaincourt at 20 Avenue Rachel, 75018.

Here is an interesting article that explains more of the history of the bridge over the cemetery.

Cemetery Montmartre vs. Pere Lachaise

Père Lachaise is definitely worth a visit. It’s home to an impressive list of famous residents including Frédéric Chopin, Jim Morrison, Édith Piaf, and Oscar Wilde.

Steve and I checked it out, but we prefer Cemetery Montmartre, and here’s why:

First, Montmartre’s multi-level layout, thanks to its origins as an abandoned quarry, makes for a more interesting walk, with sloping paths and surprise viewpoints that Père Lachaise just can’t match.

Second, Montmartre is in the heart of the artistic neighborhood of the same name. Many of its permanent residents were artists themselves, and the monuments reflect that with flair and creativity.

Third, unlike Père Lachaise, Cemetery Montmartre is woven right into the neighborhood. You can feel the buzz of Montmartre all around.

Who’s Buried in Cemetery Montmartre?

Edgar Degas

I knew that the artist Edger Degas was buried in Cemetery Montmartre, and I kept that in mind as I strolled past numerous tombs. I passed one that said Famille de Gas. I thought to myself, what an unfortunate last name (thinking of the English “gas”, not the French).

I finally resorted to looking up Degas’s grave using Find a Grave. Famille de Gas WAS Degas’s gravesite.

Emile Zola

The French novelist, playwright, and journalist was initially buried in Montmartre. Five years later, his remains were relocated to the Pantheon, the mausoleum where many great French leaders, scientists, writers, and artists are interred.

Dalida

Being from the U.S. I had never heard of Dalida, but her compelling memorial made me want to learn more.

Dalida was the professional name of a famous singer from 1956 to 1987. She was very successful in Europe even though she did not release her music to the U.S. or U.K. markets.

She faced many struggles in her personal life, including the suicides of several people with whom she was close. She committed suicide in 1987 at the age of 54. You can read about her here.

Use this handy map to find these graves and more.

You can use Dale Dunlop’s post “Montmartre Cemetery – How to Enjoy a Self-Guided Tour” to make sure you don’t miss anything in the cemetery.

So Many Cemeteries, So Little Time

Montmartre Cemetery was the first cemetery we visited as full-time travelers, way back in 2018. Since then, we’ve wandered through graveyards in cities all over the world.

Of all the cemeteries we’ve seen, Montmartre holds a special place in our hearts. Between the setting, the history, and the magic of Montmartre, it has left an impression that’s never faded.

Learn about “The Fascinating and Sordid History of Crossbones Graveyard,” London’s unconsecrated burial ground for prostitutes, paupers, criminals, and other outcasts used from post-medieval times until its closure in 1853.

Want to take your tombstone tourism a step further? Check out these articles:
The Paris Insiders Guide about Pere Lachaise Cemetery
“Discover the Montparnasse Cemetery in Paris” by French Moments

And of course, we can’t forget the Catacombs of Paris. Unfortunately, the catacomb workers were on strike during our visit, so we missed out. Hopefully, you’ll have better luck. In the meantime, learn a bit of catacomb history and get helpful tips from Courtney Traub at Paris Unlocked.

And finally, here are two more of our favorite French places:
The Musée d’Orsay
The Estate of Versailles

Until Next Time

Steve and I love hearing from our readers, so don’t be shy!

Are you a fellow cemetery explorer? Which ones have you visited and do you have any favorites?

Have you been to Cemetery Montmartre? If so, did it steal your heart like it did ours?

Let us know in the comments below.

Happy traveling,
Linda

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