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.
at

31 comments:

  1. 黄清华 Wong Ching WahFebruary 16, 2012 at 1:27:00 AM CST

    The first one is creative observation !

    ReplyDelete
  2. AlainFebruary 16, 2012 at 2:01:00 AM CST

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

    ReplyDelete
  3. La BrocanteuseFebruary 16, 2012 at 3:05:00 AM CST

    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!

    ReplyDelete
  4. mauropucciFebruary 16, 2012 at 3:38:00 AM CST

    Molto interessante.
    Saluti
    Mauro

    ReplyDelete
  5. My name is RietFebruary 16, 2012 at 6:05:00 AM CST

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

    ReplyDelete
  6. DarylFebruary 16, 2012 at 7:19:00 AM CST

    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

    ReplyDelete
  7. Cezar and LéiaFebruary 16, 2012 at 7:36:00 AM CST

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

    ReplyDelete
  8. HarrietFebruary 16, 2012 at 8:26:00 AM CST

    How very touching.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Herm in Phoenix, AZFebruary 16, 2012 at 9:11:00 AM CST

    I believe Rin Tin Tin is buried here

    ReplyDelete
  10. VirginiaFebruary 16, 2012 at 9:19:00 AM CST

    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 .

    ReplyDelete
  11. AlexaFebruary 16, 2012 at 10:43:00 AM CST

    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).

    ReplyDelete
  12. TerryFebruary 16, 2012 at 11:43:00 AM CST

    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.

    ReplyDelete
  13. VirginiaFebruary 16, 2012 at 12:12:00 PM CST

    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

    ReplyDelete
  14. MaryFebruary 16, 2012 at 1:51:00 PM CST

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

    ReplyDelete
  15. TheChieftessFebruary 16, 2012 at 3:13:00 PM CST

    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...

    ReplyDelete
  16. ALFebruary 16, 2012 at 5:04:00 PM CST

    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!

    ReplyDelete
  17. PeterParisFebruary 16, 2012 at 6:00:00 PM CST

    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"!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Genie -- Paris and BeyondFebruary 16, 2012 at 7:26:00 PM CST

    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!

    ReplyDelete
  19. AnonymousFebruary 17, 2012 at 3:16:00 PM CST

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

    ReplyDelete
  20. VirginiaFebruary 17, 2012 at 8:15:00 PM CST

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

    ReplyDelete
  21. Kirsty @ Bonjour QuiltsFebruary 20, 2012 at 12:13:00 PM CST

    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!

    ReplyDelete
  22. hamiltonFebruary 20, 2012 at 6:14:00 PM CST

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

    ReplyDelete
  23. SondraFebruary 20, 2012 at 7:48:00 PM CST

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

    ReplyDelete
  24. AnnFebruary 20, 2012 at 9:01:00 PM CST

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

    ReplyDelete
  25. PeterFebruary 21, 2012 at 12:27:00 AM CST

    Love it, and such style.

    ReplyDelete
  26. biebkriebelsFebruary 21, 2012 at 5:50:00 AM CST

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

    ReplyDelete
  27. Herding CatsFebruary 21, 2012 at 6:36:00 AM CST

    Oh, how beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  28. JulieFebruary 21, 2012 at 7:54:00 AM CST

    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 ...

    ReplyDelete
  29. VioletSkyFebruary 21, 2012 at 12:45:00 PM CST

    The first shot is perfectly aligned with the shadows.

    ReplyDelete
  30. UnknownFebruary 22, 2012 at 8:00:00 PM CST

    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.

    ReplyDelete
  31. CaTFebruary 22, 2012 at 9:10:00 PM CST

    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.

    ReplyDelete

Merci pour votre comment!