This was my first blog post, but I thought I’d make my manifesto easy to find by reposting it here.
The Dourcherot monument, Pere Lachaise Cemetery
I started visiting graveyards by accident. A series of missed connections during the first Gulf War resulted in an unanticipated layover in London, where I just happened to pick up Victorian Valhalla, a guidebook to Highgate Cemetery. My husband Mason wanted to visit the graveyard because John Gay’s photos made it look so pretty. In fact, Highgate was ravishing, full of dramatic marble angels taking wing.
As it happened, one graveyard led to another. Mason and I decided to visit Père Lachaise in Paris because so many famous people came to rest there. As we wandered, we accidentally discovered my favorite grave marker in all the world: shackled in the granite, Prometheus raises one fist against the gods. If that doesn’t sum up my feeling about death, I don’t know what might.
So I started looking at graveyards because they were pretty, then because famous people rested there. I quickly learned that practically anonymous gravestones tell the best stories. I developed a fascination with history, as reflected in burial grounds, which led to studying trends in mortuary decoration. You can say I’m obsessed. I don’t mind.
I have in mind a feature in this blog where I discuss a new Cemetery of the Week every Wednesday. My plan is to write a brief encyclopedia entry, something that will give the flavor of the graveyard, enough to whet your appetite for travel, and illustrate it with one of my photographs or a postcard from my collection.
In my travels, I’ve discovered that graveyards are really very fragile. All it takes is a windstorm or a lightning bolt to do irreparable harm, not to mention the kind of damage a determined teenager can do. Cemeteries are vulnerable because they are not visited. People care about the things they see. My mission is to get people to go. That’s the least I can do for the pleasure cemeteries have given me: inspire and encourage other people to visit for themselves.
Thanks for stopping by.
You might also be interested in:
What Cemetery Aficionados call themselves.
My 7 Links: some of my blog posts that I think rate more attention.
My view on cemetery antiques for sale.
Let me know what you would like to see on Cemetery Travel.
Loren, I found you while googling to find potential supporters for the Pere LaChaise coffee table book I’m trying to print. The public funding site, Kickstarter accepted my project proposal and I’m up and running. Please click on the link above to get a better idea of what I’m about. I hope you think it’s worth posting on your blog. I also welcome any comments or ideas you might have to help me reach my goal of creating an amazing
fine art photography book on Pere Lachaise. Thanks for your time, Mark
Thanks for stopping by, Mark. Your Pere Lachaise book looks like a beautiful project. Good luck raising your funding!
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1278848212/pere-lachaise?ref=recently_launched
Hi Loren- I found your blog from a link on Tripbase, and love what I stumbled on! I just listed you as one of my nominees for the #My7Links project… can’t wait to see what you dig up
Thanks! Nice choice of words, too.
Loren, what an intriguing window on how we commemorate life and death!
I’ve always been fascinated by cemeteries, too. My hometown used to hold a cemetery “open day” once a year, encouraging people to picnic in the grounds. I thought it was creative and so healthy… addressing myths and helping to ally a few fears into the bargain.
I had a wonderful visit to “La Recoleta” cemetery in Buenos Aires a few years ago. Of course, you have to hunt to find Eva Peron’s grave, but you see the most amazing tributes along the way. How we bury our dead says so much about us as a culture. I’ll be back! Cheers, Alicia.
I would love to go to Recoleta someday. I’m envious!
Thanks so much for sharing your memories, Alicia.
Everywhere I go I try to look for the oldest graveyard in the area. Thanks for sharing. Take care.
Church of the Holy Sepulchre
I’ve nominated you for The Sunshine Award! You can see my post here: http://pennilesstraveler.com/2012/08/25/the-sunshine-award/ Congrats!!
Thanks! That is so cool.
When I was a kid a cemetery abutted our back yard and we would play on the graves. I wouldn’t do that now, but I have always loved these places, and, like someone above, tend to look for the old ones when I travel. This makes me think I must put together a set of cemetery photos…thank you for taking people on this journey!
When you put your set together, will you send me the link?
Wonderful site! Thank you for sharing your interest and curiosity. I am also love cemeteries and enjoy visiting as many as I can. I posted a link to your site on my “Early Gravestones” Facebook page.
Thanks, Laura. I love your site, too.