France Burial Lottery: A Chance to Rest Among Legends
Parisians now have an unusual opportunity to secure a final resting place beside some of the world’s most celebrated figures in the city’s most iconic cemeteries — Père-Lachaise, Montparnasse, and Montmartre. This new initiative is part of a city-organized lottery offering burial plots next to renowned artists and cultural icons.
Lottery Details
The City of Paris has launched a unique program allowing residents to apply for a chance to be buried near famous personalities such as Jim Morrison of The Doors, writer Oscar Wilde, and French singer Édith Piaf. Each cemetery will provide ten available graves, valued at approximately €4,000 per plot.
Terms and Responsibilities
Winners of the lottery must restore the chosen gravestone in order to claim their spot. The selection process will conclude by January 2026. Once granted, the burial rights come with maintenance fees starting from €976 for ten years and up to €17,668 for perpetual ownership.
If the grave is not properly maintained or the agreement violated, the winner will lose both the burial rights and any funds deposited. The offer is open exclusively to residents of Paris.
A Tradition of Famous Burials
Iconic Hollywood actress Marilyn Monroe, known for her controversial life and enduring fame, once set a global trend for celebrity burial sites, inspiring similar sentiments among admirers and cities alike.
“There is a finite amount of burial land and an infinite amount of dead people.”
Summary
This Parisian initiative blends heritage preservation with local opportunity, giving residents a rare chance to rest beside historic icons while maintaining the city’s famed cemeteries.