The city of Paris has unveiled an extraordinary lottery system that offers participants the chance to win burial plots in some of the French capital's most famous cemeteries. This innovative approach aims to address the shortage of burial spaces while preserving historical tombs that have deteriorated over time.
Solving Paris's Burial Space Crisis
According to a statement released by Paris city hall on Friday, cemeteries within the city walls have been operating at near-capacity since the early 20th century. The situation has become increasingly challenging due to complex local regulations that complicate the clearing of abandoned tombs.
The lottery system presents a creative solution to this longstanding problem, offering 30 carefully selected tombs across three of Paris's most celebrated cemeteries. Winners will have the unique opportunity to purchase and restore these historical burial sites.
How the Cemetery Lottery Works
The registration process for this unusual lottery opened on Monday and will continue until December 31. Each participant must pay a 125-euro registration fee to enter the draw.
Successful applicants will be granted the right to purchase one of the available tombs for 4,000 euros ($4,600). Additionally, winners will be responsible for covering all restoration costs to bring these historical monuments back to their former glory.
Following restoration, participants can acquire a lease for the burial plot. The lease costs range from 976 euros for a 10-year contract to 17,668 euros for perpetual burial rights.
Famous Cemeteries Participating
The lottery includes tombs in three of Paris's most prestigious final resting places. Père-Lachaise cemetery, home to legendary figures including The Doors frontman Jim Morrison, playwright Oscar Wilde, and singer Édith Piaf, offers 10 plots.
Another 10 plots are available in Montparnasse cemetery, where intellectual giants like Jean-Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, and Susan Sontag are buried. The final 10 plots reside in Montmartre cemetery, the eternal home of painter Edgar Degas, author Émile Zola, and dancer Vaslav Nijinsky.
City officials noted that in recent decades, many cemetery visitors throughout France have expressed interest in restoring historic funerary monuments in exchange for burial plot concessions. However, legal complexities surrounding state-owned cemetery land and temporary plot rentals have previously made such arrangements difficult to implement.
This innovative lottery system represents Paris's solution to these legal challenges, creating a pathway for residents to secure these highly sought-after burial spaces while contributing to the preservation of the city's cultural heritage.
