Montmartre in Paris in Département de Paris, Île-de-France, France — Western Europe
Cimetière du Calvaire
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Calvary Cemetery
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, April 11, 2025
1. Cimetière du Calvaire Marker
Of note: as seen (and easily missed here), the cemetery is only open one day of the year, November 1st (All Saint’s Day in the Catholic calendar).
Cimetière de Saint-Pierre de Montmartre
1688 et 1801
Le cimetière du Calvaire tient son nom du jardin qui le prolonge dans lequel est érigé un calvaire. Il est accolé à l'église Saint-Pierre de Montmartre dont il était le cimetière paroissial, avant de devenir municipal après la Révolution. Aménagé sur un terrain cédé en 1688 par l'abbesse bénédictine de Montmartre, c'est le plus ancien et plus petit cimetière de Paris, et sans doute un ancien cimetière mérovingien.
Agrandi en 1697 puis fermé à la Révolution, le cimetière rouvre en 1801. Saturé, il ferme définitivement en 1823. On y compte 85 tombes où se côtoient familles aristocratiques de Montmartre et habitants de la butte dont des meuniers. Des soldats, morts lors de la prise de Paris par les Alliés en mars 1814, reposent dans une fosse commune.
Classé à l'inventaire des monuments historiques, le cimetière s'ouvre par une porte de bronze (1980), œuvre du sculpteur italien Tommaso Gismondi, également auteur des portes de l'église Saint-Pierre.
Calvary Cemetery
Saint-Pierre de Montmartre Cemetery
1688 and 1801
The Calvary Cemetery takes its name from the garden that extends from it, in which a calvary cross stands. It is adjacent to the Church of Saint-Pierre de Montmartre, of which it was the parish cemetery, before becoming a municipal cemetery after the French Revolution. Established on land donated in 1688 by the Benedictine Abbess of Montmartre, it is the oldest and smallest cemetery in Paris, and likely a former Merovingian cemetery.
Enlarged in 1697 and then closed during the French Revolution, the cemetery reopened in 1801. Having reached capacity, it closed permanently in 1823. It contains 85 tombs where aristocratic families of Montmartre lie alongside residents of the hill, including millers. Soldiers who died during the Allied capture of Paris in March 1814 rest in a mass grave.
Listed as a historical monument, the cemetery is accessed through a bronze gate (1980), the work of the Italian sculptor Tommaso Gismondi, who also created the doors of the Church of Saint-Pierre.
Erected by Ville
this page online
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Cemeteries & Burial Sites. In addition, it is included in the Parks and Squares of Paris series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1688.
Location. 48° 53.208′ N, 2° 20.505′ E. Marker is in Paris, Île-de-France, in Département de Paris. It is in Montmartre. It is on Rue du Mont-Cenis. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2 Rue du Mont-Cenis, Paris, Île-de-France 75018, France. Touch for directions.
Regionally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, Europe, the European Union, Atlantic Europe, the Schengen Area, Western Europe, a coastal Mediterranean country, and the Western World. Historically, it finds itself in what was once a French colony and also the Roman Empire.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Saint-Pierre de Montmartre (within shouting distance of this marker); Suzanne Valadon and Maurice Utrillo (within shouting distance of this marker); Jehan Doulcet (within shouting distance of this marker); Gaston Couté (within shouting distance of this
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, April 11, 2025
2. Cimetière du Calvaire / Calvary Cemetery Marker - wide view
The marker is visible here to the right of the cemetery entrance.
Also see . . . Cimetière du Calvaire(Wikipedia, in French). Overview (in translation):
Located at the top of Montmartre hill, the Calvary Cemetery, or Saint-Pierre-du-Calvaire Cemetery, is, along with the Charonne Cemetery, one of the last two Parisian cemeteries adjoining a parish church. With an area of approximately 600 square meters, it is the smallest of all the Parisian cemeteries. 85 graves are listed there.(Submitted on December 8, 2025.)
Photographed by Editions E. Le Deley, Paris, circa 1905
3. Cimetière du Calvaire / Calvary Cemetery
Credits. This page was last revised on December 9, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 8, 2025, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 73 times since then and 38 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 8, 2025, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.
