My friend and I want to do a "walking tour" of the Pere LaChaise Cemetery. Paris Walks only does the tour 1 day a month, and it is not the day we will be there (naturally). Anyway, they recommended a private tour with someone that would pick us up @ our hotel and bring us back after the tour. The problem is 195 Euros - and that is too much for our budget. Do anyone have any suggestions? We would rather do the tour, than explore on our own (so please don't suggest that we do it by ourselves). We are two older ladies and don't want to walk all over creation trying to find different graves.

Sorry, I dont have any recommendations for you, but I do have a related question. I read somewhere that Jim Morrison's grave will be dug up before 2004. Is this true? Thanks

Regardless of what you think, Pere Lachaise Cemetary is a piece of cake to walk through with a map and you would feel bad paying anything CLOSE to that kind of money for a walking tour, IMHO. The cemetary is completely walled and a relatively secure place, once you are inside. Maps are available that will show you around and there is also a large orientation sign. (Jim Morrison's location is probably rubbed off by too many touches, but you should be able to find its inconspicuous location regardless. (As for his potential of being relocated, Pere LaChaise isn't necessarily a FINAL resting place. The plots are on more of a "rental" basis than a permanent deal. That may be what Mr. Morrison is coming up against). <BR><BR>If you want an extra measure of service, I would suggest the best way would be to simply take a cab there, rather than the metro. Honestly, it is NOT something you need a guide for unless you are REALLY facing some unusual challenges. I'm suggesting that you re-think your reluctance. Here's a link to my brief notes, with a pic:<BR><BR>http://www.igougo.com/planning/journalEntryActivity.asp?JournalID=3126&EntryID=50 54<BR><BR>It really is "a walk in the park", when you get right down to it. Good luck!

I agree with Jim. There's no need to pay that for a tour. You can easily follow the map which marks who is where. Although you've given me a wonderful idea for my mid-life crisis second career. Off to be come a Pere Lachaise private guide...

Message: Amy , "ain't" that the truth! LOL. Anyway, I really appreciate the feedback. I may just take everyone's advise, take a cab over there and just explore (with a map) - one question though, does the map tell about the interesting "tidbits" about the graves? That's the info that I wanted more than anything. You know, the behind the scene things. Second question, how can I call a cab to pick us up?

I'm a big fan of the DK Eyewitness Travel Guide and you'll find some good info on pages 240-241 of the Paris guide. You can likely find even more extensive information on Pere LaChaise if you check your local library -- and although I've never purchased anything in the neighborhood, I'm guessing that there would be some guide books available. <BR><BR>Here's a site with a "click-able" map if you want to look at something on your PC:<BR><BR>http://www.paris.org/Expos/PereLachaise/pl.history.html<BR><BR>Amy: Be sure to let us know when you start your mid-life crisis tour guide job at Pere LaChaise. Some of us might show up just for the heck of it! <BR><BR>Taxis in Paris are not generally hailed, but you can have your hotel call one for you or just go to the nearest taxi rank to get one. (There is one near Pere LaChaise, too).

Just read that the only <BR>"restrooms" there are of the turkish variety, so beware.

Hi. You might want to contact Michael Osman. I used his services as a guide in Paris. He really knows his stuff, and is a great guy. Write him and see what he offers as a tour of the cemetary. His fee for a day is very resonable! His e-mail: [email protected]<BR>Good luck.<BR>Tony

Betty, do you know French fairly well? If so, I do know of a guide who is an expert on Parisian cemeteries, and he gives regular tours of Pere Lachaise that are open to the public and very cheap. He is a wonderful guide. If so, I can look his name up when I get home in a few days. Here is a web site all about Pere Lachaise, I think it has some history and info on key graves, but I haven't looked at it recently so may be forgetting.

Betty, do you know French fairly well? If so, I do know of a guide who is an expert on Parisian cemeteries, and he gives regular tours of Pere Lachaise that are open to the public and very cheap. He is a wonderful guide. If so, I can look his name up when I get home in a few days. Here is a web site all about Pere Lachaise, I think it has some history and info on key graves, but I haven't looked at it recently so may be forgetting.<BR>http://www.gargl.net/lachaise/index.html

Sorry I have not answered your questions before now - went shopping. Tony, I will e-mail Michael and see what his price is. Thanks! Christine, no I don't know any french - does this guide only speak french?

Oh, I forgot to ask - what in the world is Turkish restrooms??????

It's a combination of a toilet and a urinal in the shape of a shower stall with a big hole in the floor, two "islands" to position your feet, and two bars on the side to hang on to while relieving yourself. <BR>Entire populations have lived with them successfully for centuries, but since it takes a lot of experimenting to "get the hang" of it, avoid them if possible.

Betty...sorry for the delay. No, the map didn't have interesting tidbits. I used the website listed above and researched the people I was interested in hunting down (Wilde, Moliere, Chopin) separately before I left home so I'd know how they ended up there and any trivia (like about Wilde's phallic grave) before I left home.

There is a book called "Permanent Parisians" by Culbertson/Randall. It has 4 walks for Pere Lachaise, breaking it up into 4 quadrants. It gives a map with numbered spots, ex. graves for Colette, Pissarro, Heloise and Abelard, Chopin, Morrison, Raspail, Moliere, etc etc. The book gives historical backgrounds on these figures, seems like just what you need to prepare your visit. I probably ordered it thru www.half.com (now connected w/ Ebay) - jacket price is $16.95.

Betty, I'm sorry but I couldn't find any info that the expert I knew (Vincent de Langlade) gives tours in English. He is an expert historian and tour guide and has written a book on Pere Lachaise, in fact. HIs tours are cheap because they are group tours (cost about US$10 per person); they are open to the public and anyone can just show up and groups are very small. That is one of the most wonderful things about Paris, they have regular expertly guided tours open to the public on all sorts of subjects which are listed in the guides like Pariscope under "Conferences". That's how a took a special tour of Opera Garnier that goes to all sort of parts the regular public doesn't see. Langlade usually gives several a week, often of the cemeteries as that is his niche, but other sites also.<BR><BR>I couldn't find any info that he is for private hire or if he gives any in English, unfortunately. A tour with him is really not the same as doing it yourself. I don't know of anyone else who specializes in that.

Betty, I just thought of something that could help if you do want a guide. One nice thing about the guided special-interest architectural and historical tours I mentioned is that the guides must be registered and authorized with the city to do this. There is an association for such guides, including interpreter guides, which you could contact and ask for recommendations of a special-interest tour in English of Pere Lachaise. Here is their name and addess (assocation of interpreter-guides and lecturers):<BR>Association des Guides Interpretes et Conferenciers<BR>10, place de la Madeleine<BR>Paris 75008<BR>phone 49-27-00-91<BR>FAX 40-15-99-66<BR><BR>You might FAX them with your requirements and tell them your situation and you want someone with specialized knowledge of the history of Pere Lachaise -- you might mention someone who could give a tour in the style of Vincent de Langlade, in English(they may laugh as he is famous and no one may be as good, but it will give them a standard and idea of what you want). You could also call them if you want, as being the association of guide-interpreters, I'm sure they will speak English.

I have been in touch with Michael Osman that a couple of people recommended. his price is for all day (and is less than 1/2 of the original 195 euros); we might use his services for the day which would include the cemetery and some other sites.

Don't waste your money on a tour guide. They sell maps at the entrances to the cemetery. The cemetery is laid out in divisions (sections). Easy to find anything on the map. Also, don't bother with cabs. The metro's are a snap. Transfers are easy. And they are fast. And safe (just watch out for pickpockets). There's a metro stop directly in front of one of the cemetery's entrances.

I'm wondering if Betty is still out there and could tell her experience with Michael the Paris tour guide. Did you actually use his sevices for touring the cemetery? Do you think he could do others in Paris if someone was interested? Betty if you are still around - or anyone else that has used his services - would like to know how things went. <BR>thank you.<BR>