Come along and enjoy a walk through Père Lachaise, the largest cemetery in Paris and the most visited necropolis in the world, with this immersive walking tour!
Founded by Emperor Napoleon, Père Lachaise cemetery resembles a miniature Paris and is now home to over 1 million corpses. Some famous people that were buried in this cemetery include Frédéric Chopin, Marcel Proust and Sarah Bernhardt.
Narrated by a local historian, you will discover the graves and stories of famous people including Edith Piaf and her tale of love and loss, Jim Morrison and his unconventional life, the tragic tale of Oscar Wilde and the bittersweet love story of Heloise and Abelard.
Our audio guide will be there every step of the way to bring the dead to life... and save you from getting lost in this labyrinth!
The tour starts at Père Lachaise’s main gates. Colm gives us some context and explains how Napoleon’s sweeping reforms led to the creation of this cemetery. We’ll walk up the Avenue Principale and learn how the cemetery has become a microcosm of Parisian society.
We’ll try to spot some of France’s most famous names, from former Presidents to forgotten Artists, disgraced Poets to deified Rock Stars.
We’ll learn about the tragic tale of Heloise & Abelard, considered to be the French Romeo & Juliette. We’ll navigate the labyrinth of graves to bring you to Jim Morrisson’s resting place and we’ll try to explain the weird traditions that have sprung up around his grave.
We’ll also learn more about the symbolism of the various tombs, many of which are universal and, quite frankly, fascinating. We’ll also explore the cemetery’s (and, more generally, France’s) relationship with religion and the issues that has caused over the centuries.
We’ll weave into the more “unkept” parts of the cemetery to discover the tomb of the mighty Marcel Marceau - the man behind Michael Jackson’s moonwalk. We’ll also learn more about Géricault and the beautiful mural that adorns his tomb.
Lovers of literature will be in for a treat. We’ll uncover the stories of the “Man behind the Mask”, and hear about Proust and Balzac. We’ll listen to tales and poems from Oscar Wilde and pay respects to the brilliance of Gertrude Stein and her partner, Alice B. Toklas.
We’ll listen to music from Chopin and learn all about the career and bravery of Edith Piaf. This tour is truly a celebration of the life of the amazing people who rest in the Père Lachaise.
Vidi Guides creates immersive audio experiences that sound like podcasts. This is a self-guided audio tour that can be started or stopped at your own convenience. Download the Vidi Guides app & your Père Lachaise tour to explore the area independently and safely! Make sure to download your tour before your visit to streamline your trip!
- A multi-sensory experience that celebrates the lives of the amazing people who rest in the Père Lachaise
- Go beyond the tourist favourites and explore all the aspects that make this cemetery fascinating
- Lose yourself amongst the natural beauty of the Père Lachaise cemetery with this self-guided podcast tour
Audio: English