Cimetière de Passy, one of Paris’ 4 large cemeteries
The Cimetière de Passy is located southwest of the Place du Trocadéro, next to thePalais de Chaillot.
This cemetery is often ignored by tourists, a regrettable oversight, given its rich funerary art and the illustrious personalities who rest there!
But first, let’s briefly discover its history. The Cimetière de Passy is the smallest of the four large Parisian cemeteries (grands cimetières Parisiens), which include Montparnasse, Père-Lachaise and Montmartre, which replaced the small parish cemeteries in the early 19th century. These had indeed become too small but were also located in the heart of dwellings, thus creating sanitary problems.
The Cimetière de Passy was opened in 1820 on the site of the former cemetery attached to the Notre-Dame-de-Passy church and underwent several expansions until 1860.
Passy, Paris’ smallest cemetery
With only 2,600 graves, the Cimetière de Passy may seem modest, but its importance far exceeds its size!
Nestled in the heart of the exclusive Passy district, renowned for its lavish mansions and verdant parks, this cemetery is the final resting place of the Parisian aristocracy: from old aristocratic families to big names in finance, captains of industry, renowned politicians, and numerous personalities from the world of arts.
The Cimetière de Passy thus stands out for its exceptional funerary art. Grandiose mausoleums and chapels are, in a way, the pendants of the private mansions once inhabited by its wealthy residents.
Strolling along the shaded paths, lined with 290 trees of 15 different species, among which magnificent centuries-old chestnut trees, you will discover a parallel world where each tomb tells a story of wealth and power.
Cimetière de Passy on Place du Trocadéro
The Cimetière de Passy is not an ordinary cemetery.
It is impossible not to see the monumental sculptural group that adorns its perimeter wall on the Place du Trocadéro: the Monument à la Gloire des Armées Françaises de 1914-1918 (Monument to the Glory of the French Armies of 1914-1918).
This masterpiece by Paul Landowski, a protégé of the renowned sculptor Barrias, who is also buried in the cemetery, was inaugurated in 1956.
You may not recognise the name Paul Landowski, but you are all familiar with his iconic Christ the Redeemer statue overlooking Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Landowski also created the famous statue of Sainte-Geneviève, the patron saint of Paris, which stands on the Pont de la Tournelle.
A wealth of funerary art
The architect René created the main Art Deco grand entrance on Rue du Commandant Schloesing in 1934, and the sculptor Janthial created the three bas-reliefs of the reception pavilion.
Once through the entrance gate, you will discover a multitude of monuments in marble or granite, adorned with finely chiselled sculptures, ironwork, bronze ornaments and stained glass, statues of various styles, ranging from traditional to contemporary, each telling a unique story.
Some sculptures are perplexing, such as the little Joan of Arc, dressed in minimalist attire, located near the entrance.
As you continue along your path, you will discover a small angel, representing purity and rebirth, standing near a disturbing skull.
Not far from there, a stylised bird in gilded metal is taking flight, undoubtedly symbolising the soul of the deceased on its way to paradise.
A little further on, you will find a white marble replica of Michelangelo’s Pietà on the tomb of Baron Pierre de Perenyi.
This statue is placed under a plexiglass cover, protecting it from the elements.
Among these emblematic monuments, you will also find the imposing chapel of Marie Bashkirtseff!
Who is buried in the Cimetière de Passy?
The list of personalities buried in the Cimetière de Passy is long and includes individuals of French and international renown.
Among them are Ernest Cognac-Jay and his wife Marie-Louise, founders of the iconic department store La Samaritaine, whose name is familiar to many.
You may know the names of Marcel Dassault, aeronautical industrialist, and Francis Bouygues, renowned businessman, whose legacies and influence are still recognised.
The cemetery also contains the graves of prominent writers and journalists, including editor-in-chief Arthème Fayard, and authors Maurice Genevoix, Jean Giraudoux, Tristan Bernard, and Gérard de Villiers, the author of the famous S.A.S. series.
For art lovers, a visit to the grave of the painter Édouard Manet is a must.
He rests alongside his brother Eugène and his sister-in-law, the painter Berthe Morisot.
Music lovers will pay their respects at the graves of composers Claude Debussy, Gabriel Fauré and Jacques Ibert.
Sculpture fans, don’t miss the tomb of Emmanuel Frémiet, author of masterpieces such as the statue of the archangel Michael at Mont Saint-Michel, the equestrian statue of Dugesclin in the medieval city of Dinan, the rhinoceros sculpture in front of the Orsay Museum and the statue of Joan of Arc in Place des Pyramides in Paris, among others.
Louis-Ernest Barrias, famous for his sculpture “La Défense de Paris“, which stands in the heart of the La Défense business district, is also buried in Passy.
The world of entertainment is also represented in the cemetery.
You will find the tombs of the famous actors Jean-Louis Barrault and Madeleine Renault, as well as that of Fernandel, an emblematic figure in the history of French comedy.
Among the prominent figures in the cultural world is Gabrielle Réjane, immortalised by a menu bearing her name at the Le Train Bleu – Buffet de la Gare de Lyon, one of her favourite restaurants.
In addition to the personalities already mentioned, the cemetery houses the tombs of emblematic figures of French haute couture and luxury perfumery.
It notably contains the discreet tomb of the couturier Jean Patou, who had no descendants and sadly faded into oblivion.
You will also discover the family chapels of Givenchy and Guerlain, two names synonymous with luxury and elegance, which need no introduction.
You may also recognise the name of the composer Loulou Gasté, husband of the singer Line Renaud.
Several French politicians, such as Sadi Carnot (President of the Republic from 1887 to 1894), have a family vault there, but his ashes rest in the Pantheon.
In addition to the personalities already mentioned, the Cimetière de Passy houses the graves of several other prominent figures from diverse backgrounds.
Among them are the family tombs of press magnate Robert Hersant and the Renault family, founders of the eponymous automobile brand.
Aviators Dieudonné Costes and Maurice Bellonte‘s tombstones are quite distinctive: one adorned with a world map, the other with an Art Deco bas-relief, reflecting their pioneering spirit and their contribution to aviation.
The tomb of volcanologist Haroun Tazieff is adorned with a sculpted tombstone, a fitting tribute to his passion for geological wonders.
The cemetery also contains the graves of numerous foreign figures, including Bao Dai, the last emperor of Vietnam, and Antonio Blanco Guzman, former president of Venezuela from 1870 to 1877.
Princess Brassova, wife of Grand Duke Mikhail Romanov, brother of Tsar Nicholas II, is also buried in the Cimetière de Passy.
You will easily spot the tomb of Princess Leila Pahlavi, daughter of the Shah of Iran, which is perpetually covered in flowers.
Among the foreign personalities buried there are also James Gordon Bennett Jr., owner of the New York Herald and founder of the International Herald Tribune, and the famous American actress Pearl White.
Besides these iconic figures, countless other people, famous or not, have found eternal rest in Passy.
Some of their tombs might be slightly less grand, some might even forgotten for lack of descendants, while others are adorned with lavish decorations, but each one carries a story.
Directions: 16th district – 2 Rue du Commandant Schloesing
Metro: Trocadéro on Lines 6, 9
Coordinates: Lat 48.861898 – Long 2.284971
