podtour
The Père-Lachaise of Memory: from Oscar Wilde to the Communards' Wall
You start at the crematorium, the first in Paris, in front of an urn that no longer holds anything.
The Great Names of Père-Lachaise: from the Main Gate to Balzac: audio walk in Paris
Step into the most visited cemetery in Paris, where in 1804 nobody wanted to be buried. Chopin without his heart, Héloïse and Abelard, moved here in 1817, Morrison's bust, Molière buried at night, and Rastignac challenging Paris from the top of the hill.
What this walk is about
In 1804 this cemetery was a long way out, beyond the city wall, and Parisians didn't want it. The first grave was a five-year-old girl's, and it no longer exists. To give it prestige, the City of Paris brought in medieval lovers and two seventeenth-century geniuses… or so it said. A monument that hides an ossuary, the 1817 report at the tomb of Héloïse and Abelard (under restoration until August 2027), Morrison's stolen bust and the doubts over Molière. Up the hill, the most flower-covered grave belongs to the father of Spiritism, the Proust family grave holds a surprise, and Balzac's stands where one of his characters challenged the city.
- Start
- The cemetery nobody wanted
- Finish
- Rastignac's challenge to Paris
- Who it is for
- A good starting point for your first visit. A walk for anyone curious about literature and music. A walk for legend lovers.
- Languages
- Spanish and British English
- Underfoot
- There are cobbles or uneven surfaces. The route notes mention stairs or steps on the walk or its approaches.
The route, stop by stop
An outline of the walk. The full stories are in the app.
Loading the map…
Open a marker to see its page. Use two fingers to move the map on mobile.
- 1
The cemetery nobody wanted
- 2
The door of the ossuary
- 3
The heart that crossed the border
- 4
The lovers who made a cemetery famous
- 5
The bust that reappeared
- 6
Beneath an obelisk
- 7
Is Molière really here?
- 8
Smuggled potatoes
- 9
The grave visited by spiritualists
- 10
The famous Proust was his father
- 11
An upside-down heart
- 12
Rastignac's challenge to Paris
Walking directions are based on mapped pedestrian routes. Check local access and signs; the route is not an accessibility guarantee. Times are approximate.
Paris, before you go
Paris works best a neighbourhood at a time. Combine a walk, a pause and another look: the distances on the map can be deceptive.
More walks nearby
Good to know
What is Podtour?
An app for self-guided audio walks. Choose a city and a route, then listen to the stories behind its streets. You decide when to start and when to stop.
When can I download the app?
Podtour is coming to iOS and Android. There is no confirmed launch date yet. Join the waitlist and we will let you know when it is ready.
Does Podtour include attraction tickets?
No. Street walks and monument audio tours do not include admission tickets, transport or a guide accompanying you.
Can I listen without an internet connection?
Download the audio in the app before heading out, then listen offline. Loading the online base map and calculating a new route from your location require a connection.
What languages are included?
Every route includes Spanish and British English. The English version is adapted for English-speaking travellers, rather than translated word for word.
How do I get a whole city for free?
Join the waitlist, choose a city and confirm your email address. When the app launches, we will email you with access details. No card is required. You can also try one free route in every city.
Can I buy for myself or for a group?
Yes. Your own access is included and you can choose 0–5 guests: up to 6 people including you. Each guest saves up to €0.50 on a walk, €1 on a pack or €2 on a whole city compared with buying separately. The counter shows the total before you confirm one payment.
How do I share, and when must guests accept?
After paying, share your purchase’s invitation link. Each guest opens it in Podtour and accepts their place on their own iPhone or Android phone. They must redeem it within 30 days of purchase. Unclaimed places then expire and cannot be recovered or renewed. Access accepted in time is kept. Opening the link does not use a place; one account takes just one place, and no more people can join once all places are taken.
Can I add guests after buying?
No. Choose all your guests before confirming the first purchase. Afterwards you can share the places you paid for, but you cannot increase their number or restart the 30-day deadline.
Your first city,
on Podtour.
Join the waitlist. When we launch, your chosen city is yours to explore.
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A little welcome gift
Your first city,
on Podtour.
Join the waitlist and get one whole city free when Podtour launches. You choose where.
Podtour manages your launch request with your consent. You can withdraw it and exercise your rights as explained in our privacy policy. Privacy details.
One city per person. All its Podtour routes in Spanish and English. Available at launch. Offer details.