par In the heart of Paris, nestled within the winding paths of Père Lachaise Cemetery, stands a monument immortalizing two giants of French literature: Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, known as Molière (1622-1673), and Jean de La Fontaine (1621-1695). This historic site offers more than just a glimpse into France’s literary past—it reveals a fascinating story of cultural preservation, strategic marketing, and the construction of national heritage.
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A Calculated Monument: The Strategic Origins
The presence of Molière and La Fontaine in Père Lachaise is not the result of their original burials but rather a carefully orchestrated event that occurred over a century after their deaths. When Père Lachaise Cemetery opened in 1804 as part of Napoleon’s cemetery reforms, the ambitious project initially struggled to attract burials. Parisians found it remote and inconvenient, and it was located outside city limits in a working-class area.
By 1817, city officials faced a commercial dilemma. Their solution? A strategic reinterment of France’s cultural icons. Under the direction of Prefect Gilbert Joseph Gaspard, comte de Chabrol de Volvic, the purported remains of Molière and La Fontaine were transferred to Père Lachaise with great ceremony, alongside those of the medieval lovers Héloïse and Abélard.
This calculated “morbid marketing” proved remarkably successful. The desire to be buried near these literary luminaries rapidly increased the demand for plots, transforming Père Lachaise from a failing enterprise into what would become the most visited necropolis in the world.
The Monument’s Physical Form
The monument in Division 25 consists of two distinct yet complementary sarcophagi positioned side by side along a path aptly named Chemin Molière et La Fontaine. A decorative cast iron fence surrounds the tombs, enhancing their prominence.
La Fontaine’s sarcophagus features cast iron bas-reliefs depicting scenes from his famous fables: “The Wolf and the Stork” and “The Wolf and the Lamb.” These artistic elements directly connect the monument to his literary legacy.
Both tombs bear formal Latin inscriptions that share a similar structure, emphasizing the state-sanctioned nature of their transfer. Molière is honored as the “Prince of Comedy,” while La Fontaine is celebrated as “unique among moderns in composing Aesopian fables.” The inscriptions explicitly state that the remains were transferred in 1817 under the authority of Prefect Chabrol de Volvic, directly linking the monument to Paris’s urban development initiatives.
The Authenticity Question
Despite the monument’s impressive appearance and authoritative inscriptions, significant doubts persist about whether the sarcophagi truly contain the remains of these literary giants.
Molière’s original burial circumstances were problematic. As an actor, he faced religious censure in death and received a minimal ceremony at night in the Cimetière Saint-Joseph. La Fontaine was likely buried in the vast, overcrowded Cimetière des Saints-Innocents, where millions of Parisians were interred in communal pits over centuries.
The chaotic state of these original burial sites, combined with the revolutionary upheavals and the clear promotional motives behind the 1817 transfer, cast a long shadow of doubt over the remains’ authenticity. Some historians suggest the tombs may function as cenotaphs—monuments erected in honor of individuals whose remains lie elsewhere.
Intriguingly, this ambiguity has done little to diminish the monument’s cultural significance. Whether or not the actual bones of Molière and La Fontaine rest within these sarcophagi is, in many ways, secondary to their function as France’s officially designated site of commemoration for these literary heroes.
A Connection Beyond Death
The pairing of Molière and La Fontaine was not arbitrary. Born just a year apart, they were contemporaries who moved in similar Parisian literary and artistic circles during the flourishing cultural period of Louis XIV’s reign. Evidence confirms they were acquaintances and likely friends, with La Fontaine writing a laudatory epitaph for Molière following his death in 1673.
Their joint commemoration in Père Lachaise reflects their historical connection and their complementary status as preeminent figures of 17th-century French literature—Molière in theater, La Fontaine in poetry and fable. Together, they represent the pinnacle of French Classicism, making their combined memorial a powerful symbol of national literary achievement.
Visit Planning: Experiencing Literary Heritage
Today, the Molière and La Fontaine monument stands as one of Père Lachaise’s most significant attractions, drawing literature enthusiasts and history buffs from around the world. When planning your visit:
- Best Times: Weekday mornings offer the most serene experience, allowing quiet contemplation away from weekend crowds.
- Durée: Allow 1-2 hours to explore this monument and other notable literary figures buried nearby.
- Accéder: Enter through the main gate on Boulevard de Ménilmontant in the 20th arrondissement. The cemetery is open daily from 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM (6:00 PM in summer).
- La navigation: Division 25 can be reached by following the main paths—helpful maps are available at the entrance. Look for signs to Chemin Molière et La Fontaine.
- Accessibilité: While the cemetery has paved paths, some areas feature cobblestones and steep inclines. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended.
A Lasting Legacy
The monument to Molière and La Fontaine represents far more than a burial site—it embodies the intersection of literature, history, and national identity. Their commemoration helped transform Père Lachaise from a struggling cemetery into a cultural landmark that now attracts over 3.5 million visitors annually.
As you stand before these sarcophagi, you’re experiencing a masterpiece of cultural curation. The monument’s significance transcends the authenticity debates, functioning as a powerful focal point for literary pilgrimage and cultural memory in the heart of Paris.
Whether teaching the foibles of humanity through animal fables or satirizing social hypocrisy through comedy, Molière and La Fontaine created works that continue to resonate centuries later. Their shared monument in Père Lachaise ensures their legacies remain intertwined in literature and stone, inviting visitors to reflect on their enduring contributions to French culture and world literature.
For guided tours of Père Lachaise’s literary landmarks or more information about Molière and La Fontaine, contact the cemetery’s visitor center or consider joining specialized literary walking tours available throughout Paris.