Among Parisian curiosities lies a little-known nugget: the cemetery for dogs and other pets. Opened in 1899, it is the first pet cemetery of the modern era in Europe, and possibly the first in the world. An unusual place where time seems to stand still…
A dog cemetery that was originally intended to be… a museum
But what could have possessed Georges Harmois and Marguerite Durand to create such a place? In 1899, the duo decided to buy a plot of land on the former Île des Ravageurs, north of the Seine. As animal lovers, they wanted to build a place just for them, where their masters could pay their respects. And so the cemetery was built. The museum dedicated to pets was to follow, but unfortunately, it remained only a project… Managed by the town of Asnières since 1997, the museum almost disappeared in 1987… Fortunately, you can still stroll through its tree-lined alleys all year round.
A dog cemetery in Paris: the only one of its kind in the world
Père Lachaise is well known for its magnificent, restful setting, but there’s another equally atypical yet little-known place: the dog cemetery. A place dedicated to our faithful four-legged friends. Here you’ll find dogs loved by their masters, including celebrities such as Rintintin, the German shepherd who starred in his own show in the 1950s.
You’ll also find dogs who left their mark on the world for heroic deeds! Such is the case of Barry the Saint Bernard, who was given his own monument for saving the lives of 40 people in the Swiss Alps…
Some of the graves are lovingly decorated and regularly decorated with flowers. You can still find the doggie’s favorite toys, as well as beautiful headstones with sculptures of the beloved dog. But it’s not just dogs that are laid to rest here… There are also “funny” graves with birds, horses or, even more unusual, a lion and a monkey. These sometimes “exotic” animals have brought much love and joy to their owners.
And it’s not just the departed animals that are celebrated. At the far end of the cemetery is a sanctuary for stray and abandoned cats. Here, cats find food and a place to rest in peace! In short, a unique place to visit without delay!
📍 Location: 4, pont de Clichy, 92600 Asnières-sur-Seine
💶 Price: 3.5 euros
Also read: 6 unusual tombs to discover at Père-Lachaise