Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Pere Lachaise -- Un beau visage



The ironwork on this vault is one of a thousand faces in Pere Lachaise. Beautiful cemetaries are a joy to photograph for the architecture, the art and craftsmanship, the history. No one is going anywhere and every now and then you find un beau visage like this.

15 comments:

Pat said...

Pere Lachaise is one of my favorite places to walk in Paris. Did you see the Pere Lachase scene in the film, 'Paris, je t'aime'?

Nina said...

Oh it is a fantastic place.
Another film worth watching is "Forever" by Heddy Honigmann, a beautiful documentary.

http://www.parisvoice.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=179&Itemid=31

Alexa said...

Beautiful indeed. I too could spend hours and hours in this place—and I have!

M said...

Beautiful visage -- so glad you took me to Pere Lachaise! I have been "beyond" and am just now catching up with your blog. So many lovely memories of juin. Bises

Shell Sherree said...

Even this small detail conveys a hush and reverence. Beautiful, Genie.

Virginia said...

I agree, it's a lovely serene spot in the hustle and bustle of Paris. The cemeteries are so lovingly kept.
V

Amanda Summer said...

hello genie -- i'm happy to be back in town and catch up on your blog!!

this is a lovely scene of a part of paris few probably see -- and isn't this where jim morrison is buried? seem to remember that....

well off now to see all the other posts i missed -- and saying another 'thank you' for your kind comments over at my place ~

xxoo

Paris Paul said...

I love taking pictures of cemeteries too, as you well know, Genie. The subjects always sit so still!

Loree said...

I really wanted to go to Pere Lachaise when we were in Paris but we did not have enough time. I still long to visit Jim Morrison's grave. Maybe you have a picture?

Rob-bear said...

What an angelic face you have discovered and shared with us.

Merci bien.

Anonymous said...

I love old cemeteries, too. The one in Natchez, Ms. is a favorite of mine.

Liz

Kate said...

Isn't it interesting how cemeteries draw people to them. It's one of my favorite places to visit, and I am awed by the reputations of some of its tenants.

Randy said...

I agree with Kate, what is it that draws us. The unknown history maybe? Beautiful photo Genie.

Genie -- Paris and Beyond said...

Bibi -- I need to watch that movie again as the locations are often familiar. I don't know why I didn't just buy it.

Nina -- I have not seen that one! Thanks for the link to the review and background. Great!

Alexa -- I have been many times in different seasons and taken too many photographs. There are a few blue doors that I have shot on each journey - hah!

M -- It is so vast and I loved seeing the site of Chopin's burial.

Shell -- It never seems crowded there, even in the summer. I really prefer the starkness of winter.

Virginia -- There are some areas of decay and vandalism, but on this last trip I noticed many crypts being "renovated" and restored.

Amanda -- Welcome home again. Yes, this is the much-visited site of Jim Morrison. He keeps some interesting company here at PL!

Paul -- Yes, that is a real plus for me. If there is a blurry photo it is not because the subject moved -- Well, at least I hope not!

Loree -- JM's grave has been much abused by the public and there are many stories about the efforts made to preserve his burial site. I will look to see if I have a photo (from my first visit) but not sure that I do.

Rob -- I am attracted to the angels in cemeteries and probably my favorite for that is La Recoleta Cemetery in Buenos Aires.

Ninny -- My husband grew up in Natchez and I also love that cemetery.

Kate -- I think that some of the inscriptions are fascinating as well, particularly those of poor little children who died young, young soldiers, the famous, the infamous, and the lonely unmarked graves.

Genie -- Paris and Beyond said...

Randy -- I think that for those names we recognize from history, literature, art, we are drawn to the magic of the impact they made during their lifetimes and into the present.