Paris, France – The Parisian government is offering residents a unique and historic opportunity: the chance to be buried for eternity next to some of the world’s most celebrated artists and thinkers, from The Doors’ Jim Morrison and writer Oscar Wilde to famed French singer Édith Piaf.
In a novel initiative, the city council launched a lottery on Monday, putting 30 burial plots up for sale across three of its most famous cemeteries: 10 in Père-Lachaise, 10 in Montparnasse, and 10 in Montmartre.
The Offer and The Condition
While these cemeteries are notoriously crowded, this offer is different. The city is selling the rights to ten gravestones in each location that are in need of repair for a price of €4,000 (approximately ₹4 lakh).
However, there’s a catch. The buyers must agree to restore the historical gravestones, and in return, they will secure the burial plot directly adjacent to it for their own final rest.
A Compromise for a Space-Starved City
A report from the BBC notes that the Paris Council stated this scheme “presents a compromise” between honouring the dead and offering residents a chance to be buried within the city. Council officials explained that there is very little space available for new burials within the city’s borders, as most cemeteries have been full since the early 20th century.
The city administration and residents hope this new program will help restore monuments within these famed cemeteries, which have themselves become popular tourist attractions largely due to the famous personalities buried there.
A key eligibility requirement is that applications are open only to people who currently live in Paris.
