on our first Sunday in Paris we headed across town to visit Père Lachaise Cemetery…
established in 1804 it has the distinction of being the first garden cemetery which is a style of burial ground that uses landscaping in a park-like setting…
it was a gorgeous sunny blue sky day and we wandered for hours…
and managed to find Jim Morrison‘s grave site with its make shift barricades that people still seem compelled to go beyond (our photos are full of shadows)…
formerly called Cemetery of the East it is the largest park and cemetery in the city of Paris on 110 acres with about 5,000 trees…
there were views of the Eiffel Tower and the Montparnasse Tower with the help of our telephoto lens (we also found France’s beloved Edith Piaf’s grave)…
“The cemetery’s hilly terrain and tree-lined avenues are at once overcrowded, peaceful, and seductive. Sculptures abound, and the tombs run the gamut from simple, flat, horizontal headstones to elaborate mini-chapels open to the public. Some of the tombs are immaculately cared for, others dilapidated and abandoned.” –Encyclopedia Britannica
our visit inspired two more pages in my French Travel Journal (the photo above is not altered it was a reflection looking thru a tiny monument window)…
using some of our photos and a couple of pressed daisies we picked in another park in Paris…
I am joining in with the Art Journal Journal IN MY GARDEN THERE IS… and the Moo Mania & More PARIS challenges…
Magpie's Nest ~*~ Patty Szymkowicz 
This one is so beautiful. One of your very best.
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Oooh, this brings back wonderful memories of my time in Paris, I LOVE that cemetery, and the beautiful pages you have created. Thanks so much for joining us at both AJJ and MM&M. Alles Liebe Patty, Valerie
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Père Lachaize cemetery is an History book… You have captured all the atmosphere which reigns there. oxo
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I would love to visit that cemetery, but thank you for showing the fantastic photos. I feel I have had a virtual visit. It is a gorgeous journal spread.
Yvonne xx
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Oh dear Patty-that cemetery is top of my list next trip to Paris-and to find Edith Piaf’s resting place, along with Jim Morrison’s- wow! I do love the garden like cemeteries in France. Gorgeous journal pages depicting so many memories of your trip.
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Oh, to be physically able to make the flight back to London and Paris. I adore those cities. When I was visiting a very old cemetery in Paris, I was speaking quieting into a little handheld recorder when a very proper Frenchman came over and politely asked me to please be quiet and respectful of the deceased. I was mortified. Hope you all did’t get into any trouble like I did. Your collages are stunning…so many beautiful captures. I just love the idea of the gardens all around the area. That is a wonderful concept. I am sure those whose resting places are there are looking down very happy about their old home place. Thanks for your visit to my blog. genie
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Fabulous spread. Quite the cemetary to view. The French are so ornate and it’s an amazingly artful place. xox
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I didn’t make it there when I went to Paris. If I ever get back I now definitely want to go. Your photos are fascinating and I love the journal page you mar about it. I bet you will cherish this cool journal many years to come. Hugs. Erika
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What gorgeous French journal pages and what a stunning collage photos, Patty! You always amaze me!
You have visited very beautiful places, this one is really interesting.
Mar x
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Wonderful pages Patty! You have captured the peacefulness and serenity beautifully in both your photos and your artwork, very alluring 🙂
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You both take such beautiful photos Patty!!!
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This is so simply gorgeous and heartbreaking to me at the same time. I can appreciate the tremendous beauty, but cemeteries make me so sad, I am very emotional with so many things as I get older, or as I would call it, passionate. Stunning Patty.
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What amazing photo’s that say so much..It makes one feel there is beauty in all we see. Even in a cemetery. xoxoxo
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Oh wow Patty – what an amazing spread – so beautiful and the whole post filled with this wonderful impressions! Awesome!
Thank you so much for joining AJJ and MMM at once….you rock!
Happy , happy weekend to you and Mr.Magpie!
oxo Susi
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My dear friend with your amazing photos you have catched the aura of this special place perfectly. So you gave us an impression of this amazing place of mourning and never ending love.
Your pages also look nice with the sweet daisies, well composed again.
Hugs
Sabine xox
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Hi Patty your photos are gorgeous. I’ve never been to Paris, it’s on the list, maybe one day it will happen. Your journal pages are also very beautiful. I hope you are doing well, Hugs, Shirleyxx
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So glad they came up with the idea of the garden cemetery!
Your pages always capture your visit. 🙂
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I love and I do mean LOVE old cemeteries — this is a fabulous journey into one of the most interesting cemeteries in the world. I would dearly love to go there. The statuary is awesome!!!! Thank you Patty.
Love your journal spread and I am sure this will bring back wonderful memories for a long time to come.
I plead guilty of one sin – I love your pictures more!!!!!
Sandy xx
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When I was an undergrad, people thought I was crazy to be so interested in cemeteries. Now I find I’m not alone in my obsession with them. Since I needed three upper level credits, I did an independent study course with an instructor who was willing to let me find out all I could on cemeteries and intersperse the finished work with my own photos from all over the country (US only). So anytime you share photos of cemeteries, I’m right there with you.
You chose a very famous cemetery to visit in Paris. I confess, when I first saw the crypts in your first photo, I thought of New Orleans. Very similar in style. But then all similarity ends, because this cemetery seems to have it all.
I truly enjoyed the beauty of the grave sites, and all the photos you shared. Some were simply over the top, some showed your love of angels!
I was really impressed with the two page spread, and how you used the daisies to your advantage!
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Your journal spread is beautiful, Patty! The background you’ve created works wonderful with your lovely pictures.
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Old cemeteries hold great fascination for me – the history, the statuary, plantings. You and Mr. Magpie captured the beauty of this cemetery and its various moods. And, your journal spread continues that evocative feeling.
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This post is fantastic too.
Thank you for joining us again at MOO MANIA & MORE
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Those old cemeteries are so beautiful. Love the journal page you created from your photos.
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your photos and journal pages are deeply inspirational! xo
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Oh I wish I had been to see this cemetery, but I have not. It must be huge, and so special, and beautiful, too. I love all the monuments and gravestones. Gorgeous sculptures there is, also a few angels 🙂 , and all the famous people buried there, and almost worshiped as saints !!
It must have been one of the highlights of your visits in Paris , with such a special feeling of life and dead !!
Hugs, dear friend !! oxoxo
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Oh how I would love to see that cemetery!! What beautiful sculptures and statues!! And to see Edith Piaf’s resting place- how very special!!
And that photo- WOW! How amazing is that?? Kinda gave me a chill! Thank you so much for sharing all of this wonder with us! xo
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Aren’t the Paris cemeteries magnificent? I haven’t been to this one, though I know it is the most famous. So thanks for the wonderful photos and excellent spread!
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I remember visiting the Cimetiere du Pere Llachaise many years ago – there were no barriers around Jim Morrisons grave then but people were sitting all over it. I am rather fascinated by cemeteries, especially in Europe where they have very ornate gravestones! Hugs, Chrisx
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