"For decades, being laid to rest near the likes of The Doors' singer Jim Morrison at the Pere-Lachaise cemetery or writer Simone de Beauvoir across the River Seine in Montparnasse has been a pipe dream for Parisians. Both historic cemeteries, which attract tourists from across the globe, have been overcrowded since the start of the 20th century. But residents are now being offered the chance to win eternal rest in abandoned heritage graves at the sites when the end finally comes - as long as they agree to restore them first."
"The authorities in the French capital launched a lottery on Monday, offering 30 monuments for sale in a raffle, 10 at Pere-Lachaise, 10 at Montparnasse and 10 at Montmartre. "Within the first 24 hours we had 1,000 clicks on the application forms," Paul Simondon, a deputy to Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo, told AFP. Candidates have to provide quotes from specialised stonemasons "to demonstrate that they are aware of the cost of the renovation, so there are no surprises," said Simondon, who is in charge of funeral affairs. If the restoration and purchase conditions are not met, "the sale of the monument is cancelled and the buyer loses their investment", the authorities warn."
Paris has launched a lottery offering 30 abandoned heritage monuments across Pere-Lachaise, Montparnasse and Montmartre, granting burial rights to winners who agree to restore the graves. Applicants must submit estimates from specialised stonemasons and meet renovation and purchase conditions; failure to comply cancels the sale and forfeits the buyer's investment. Initial interest was strong, with roughly 1,000 application clicks in 24 hours. Officials say the scheme allows families new access to central Paris plots, serves as a trial that could expand, and promotes ecological reuse of existing burial plots.
Read at The Local France
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