Frommer's EasyGuide to Paris 2015 by Margie Rynn

Author:Margie Rynn
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: FrommerMedia
Published: 2015-09-15T00:00:00+00:00

Cimetière du Père-­Lachaise CEMETERY It’s hard believe that a cemetery could be a top tourist attraction, but this is no ordinary cemetery. Romantic and rambling as a 19th-­century English garden, this hillside resting-­place is wonderfully green, with huge leafy trees and narrow paths winding around the graves, which include just about every French literary or artistic giant you can imagine, plus several international stars. Proust, Apollonaire, Collette, Delacroix, Seurat, Modigliani, Bizet, Rossini, are all here, as well as Sarah Bernhardt, Isadora Duncan, Simone Signoret and Yves Montand (buried side by side, of course). Though some are simple tombstones, many are miniature architectural marvels, embellished with exquisite marble and stone figures, or even phone-­booth-­size chapels, complete with stain glass windows. Some of the standouts include:

Héloïse and Abélard: These two legendary lovers actually existed, and their 12th-­century remains were brought here in 1817, when the city built them this monument, which is covered by an openwork chapel taken from an abbey in southwestern France.

Molière and La Fontaine: Though there was no romantic link, the celebrated playwright and noted fable writer were also brought here in 1817 and placed in nearby sarcophagi, both of which stand appropriately high on pillars. If the authenticity of the remains is in doubt, they still make a fitting memorial to these two brilliant talents.

Oscar Wilde: Usually covered with lipstick kisses, this huge stone monument is topped with a winged figure that resembles an Aztec deity. An elegant homage to this brilliant writer, who died a pauper in Paris in 1900.

Celebrity graves can be hard to find, so a map is essential. You can find one at the newsstand across from the main entrance or use the one in this book (p. 135). There are also good maps on the website, as well as the Paris municipal site: www.paris.fr (search for “Père Lachaise”).

16 rue de Repos, 20th arrond. No telephone number. www.pere-­lachaise.com. Admission free. Mon–Fri 8am–6pm; Sat–Sun 8:30am–6pm (closes at 5pm Nov to early Mar). Métro: Père-­Lachaise or Philippe Auguste.

Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie MUSEUM This gigantic science and industry museum began life as an immense slaughterhouse. During construction the 1960s, it was touted as the most modern of its kind. It turned out to be the center of a corruption scandal and was quickly abandoned when the city’s abattoirs were transferred elsewhere. After years of head-­scratching, the building was finally turned into this terrific museum, which includes a planetarium, a 3-­D movie theater, and a multimedia library, not to mention a real live submarine. The heart of the museum is Explora, two huge floors of interactive exhibits and displays, as well as excellent temporary exhibits. On the ground floor, parents will be delighted to find the Cité des Enfants (separate admission, 9€ adults, 6€ under 25 for a 11⁄2-­hr. session; see website for hours, reservations essential, particularly during French school vacations), which has separate programs for 2-­ to 7-­year-­olds and 7-­ to 12-­year-­olds. Kids get to explore their own sensations and the world around them in a series of hands-­on activities and displays.

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