Paris authorities launch unusual lottery for places in cemeteries with famous people

Paris Authorities Launch Lottery for Burial Plots in Historic Cemeteries

Paul Simondon, deputy mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo responsible for funeral matters, told AFP that in the first 24 hours we had 1,000 clicks on the application forms.

The Paris city authorities initiated a unique lottery on Sunday, offering winners the chance for eternal rest in abandoned historic tombs in exchange for their restoration. The city’s cemetery system has 634,000 plots, but being buried near iconic figures like American musician and poet Jim Morrison in Père Lachaise or French writer Simone de Beauvoir in Montparnasse has remained unattainable, as historic cemeteries have been full since the early 20th century.

Many graves in these cemeteries are abandoned but hold historical value that prevents their demolition. Starting Monday, Paris city hall is putting 30 monuments up for sale through a lottery:

Applicants must have certificates from specialist stone-cutting companies to show they are aware of the renovation costs, so there are no surprises, Simondon explained. If restoration and purchase conditions are not met, the sale is canceled, and the buyer loses their investment, according to city officials.

This restoration mechanism allows families for the first time to anticipate purchasing a burial site within city limits.

This initiative opens a rare opportunity to be interred in Paris's historic cemeteries while preserving their cultural heritage.

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vijesti.me vijesti.me — 2025-11-07

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