Thursday, February 16, 2012

Le Cimetière des chiens d'Asnières-sur-Seine


I've kept you waiting long enough for this very special resting place in Paris. Actually it's located in the suburb of Asnières-sur-Seine, but well worth the Metro ride and nice walk through the area.  Built in 1899,  making it most likely the oldest pet cemetery in the world.  In addition to dogs, you will find the graves of cats, a monkey and a horse as well as other assorted dearly departed pets.


This day my friend Mary Gilbert, Marie Z. Johnston ( and her cute pooch who thankfully did not seem disturbed to be visiting doggy graves) and Richard Nahem joined us for the trek.  The first visit here for all of us!  It was a crisp sunny day and we spent probably an hour or more,  pouring over the simple and the elaborate gravesites, some with the most heart wrenching tributes.  Today one special little mausoleum for the family's chats, Mimi et Plume.  I will have many more photos to share with  you later.

31 comments:

黄清华 Wong Ching Wah said...

The first one is creative observation !

Alain said...

Des chats ici ? Les chiens doivent se retourner dans leurs tombes.

La Brocanteuse said...

I am so thankfull for you sharing this, I for one did not know about the cemetry. Will def add it to my list when in Paris next. Perhaps more meaning to me today since we will soon have to say goodbye to one of our dear Afghans ...
Best wishes to you
Colette
Ps, even if I don 't comment often, I visit your blog every day!

mauropucci said...

Molto interessante.
Saluti
Mauro

My name is Riet said...

How sweet that is, don't thing we have a per cemetery here.

Daryl said...

what is the little cat face shaped opening for .. just for show or does it have a purpose .. noisy friends who were not in Paris want to know

Cezar and Léia said...

This is so interesting!Thanks so much for sharing!
Léia

Harriet said...

How very touching.

Herm in Phoenix, AZ said...

I believe Rin Tin Tin is buried here

Virginia said...

Herm, oui Rin Tin Tin is there and I'm afraid his gravesite is not as elaborate as Plume et Mimi's! I have a photo and will post it sometime just for you. Thanks for commenting.

Daryl, it's just a nice little feature of this mausoleum. Mary's en route from Paris or I'd verify if there were names on the other two sides. I loved catching the shadow on Mimi's!

Colette, We were surprised that neither Richard, Marie or Peter had visited this place. Mary is a cemetery lover so she's in the know. I just tag along .

Alexa said...

Thanks for sharing this, V. Can't believe I've never been here, but it's on my list for next time (whenever that is).

Terry said...

What a coincidence! I see this:

http://tiny.cc/t1a70

in today's Le Figaro. What a shame. But, I wouldn't be putting my diamonds in a dog's grave, either.

Virginia said...

Terry, I had to put the text into Google Translator but you won't believe this, I have a photo of Tipsy's grave!!!
I'll post it tomorrow with your link. Thank you.
V

Mary said...

How wonderful! I love that there is a peaceful, beautiful resting place for loved animals there! The gravestones are so elegant and respectfully done..

TheChieftess said...

I find pet cemetery's fascinating...

Several of my deceased pet's ashes are sprinkled on the rose garden in the back of our Glendale home...all I need to do is go out to the garden and enjoy the memories while stopping to smell the roses...

AL said...

An interesting concept of a pet cemetery...I'm sure we have them here...somewhere, but I've never come across one. It's amazing the love that people have for their pets...more than for fellow humans!

PeterParis said...

Too bad I couldn't join you that day. Still haven't been there. It's on my list. I also heard about Tipsy's grave. So, tomorrow we will see it... "before"!

Genie -- Paris and Beyond said...

Well, I guess that Peter and I will have to make the trek to the pet cemetery. Your photos are lovely and I found Terry's link to the Le Figaro intriguing. I mean, who would think that there would be such drama and intrigue around a pet's tomb, one that has been in place over 9 years!

I can't wait to see your photo!

Anonymous said...

i wonder if there is a chat one?
Prob not, the french are only crazy about their doggies

Virginia said...

Ara, yes this is cats as well and an asst. horse and monkey!

Kirsty @ Bonjour Quilts said...

Goodness, to have the disposable income to buy a mausoleum for a cat! I guess if I didn't have children...
Plume had a good life - 18 is fairly old for a cat!

hamilton said...

I have never seen a pet cemetery and didn't realize they could be so elaborate.

Sondra said...

I love pet cemeteries and this one if Fab for sure!!!!

Ann said...

I've never seen anything like this. Mimi's headstone is beautiful.

Peter said...

Love it, and such style.

biebkriebels said...

Love this sweet cat grave, so beautiful made. I had all my cats cremated.

Herding Cats said...

Oh, how beautiful!

Julie said...

This is wonderful, VJ. I shall have to remember to return tomorrow, to read about the jewels and the 9 years dead cat. The mind boggles ...

See, it isn't so hard following a meme, is it? Now to get you to link a story to us next week. One can but try.

I love that first shot, and the way you have captured a form of ying and yang of a cat. Very touching.

I have a cat on my post for Wednesday. Well ... a bit of a cat ...

VioletSky said...

The first shot is perfectly aligned with the shadows.

Unknown said...

Great shot with the shadow. There's a space in our house where our cats can look out into the hallway, which I shaped much like that opening.

But as much as we love our animals, I can't imagine spending that kind of money to bury them.

CaT said...

how cute, the cat grave!
i would like it for myself... maybe an idea... :)
i agree with gene that it is maybe a bit much for a pet.. but i never had any pets so i cant really say.