Friday, July 13, 2012

{paris in july} cimetière des chiens et autres animaux domestiques

This is a post for Paris in July 
hosted by bookbath and thyme for tea


The absolutely favourite thing I have done so far during this trip to Paris is to visit the Cimetière des Chiens et Autres Animaux Domestiques, which is a pet cemetery. Not just a pet cemetery, the oldest one in Paris (there's a little more information here). It was an amazing place: burials of pets have been held there - at Asnières-sur-Seine - since the end of the nineteenth century. 

I mostly photographed the cat graves, but dogs were in the majority. There was also a monkey and a budgie (?). Quite remarkable, and I thoroughly recommend it if you have somewhat macabre Parisian tastes! 

Here are some photos:

7 comments:

  1. What a fascinating place to explore!

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  2. I love it! How elaborate a resting place for beloved pets. If I ever get to Paris, I'll be sure and visit.

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  3. Thanks Marg & Jenclair - It was a lovely place to spend a morning. So touching and very pretty. I wouldn't mind being buried there myself, with my pets!

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  4. Oh I'd love to visit this cemetery. It's definitely on my to do list. Not sure my 11 year old would like it though. That tennis ball monument would be so perfect for one of our current dogs! She is completely obsessed by tennis balls- I love it. Thanks for all the photos, it was a great tour.

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    1. I think this has quite a lot to offer children, actually, even if the inscriptions are tricky. It is very sculpturally interesting. And I know what I will say should I be asked where one's beloved pet "goes" after death now - a little bit of Parisian paradise.

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  5. This is fabulous -- I had no idea it was here. I am a serious cemetery fan and like you I would have photographed more cat graves than other. I guess I never thought when I was at the Montmartre cemetery (all people but plenty of live cats around there!) that when I came home from Paris I would be saying farewell to my own Marmelade Gypsy. If we had a spot like this, he'd most certainly be there.

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    1. There were a couple of live cats curled up in the cemetery too. It makes me want to start my own formal pet graveyard (with a place for me too). I have two ginger cats, so I understand your bond with Marmelade Gypsy - they are part of the family.

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