The Best Way to Find Jim Morrison’s grave in Pere Lachaise


 

Originally published by  Anna in July 2022 and updated by Vanessa in April 2023

Jim Morrison’s grave is one of the greatest attractions of the city of Paris. In this article, I will tell you the best way to find Jim Morrison’s grave in Pere Lachaise!

Are you a fan of The Doors? Are you a fan of Jim Morrison? Or are you simply curious? Do you feel like visiting the place where one of the best rock legends rests in peace? The charming Jim Morrison was buried in the Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris. If you come to visit Paris do not lose the opportunity to see Jim Morrison’s grave in Pere Lachaise. It will be worthwhile to pay a visit.

This cemetery is one of the most famous ones in the world for several reasons. Apart from Morrison, you will also find the graves of Oscar Wilde, Edith Piaf, Molière, Eugène Delacroix, and many others! But today, I will be focusing on Jim Morrison’s grave. So, read on and find out the best way to find Jim Morrison’s grave in Pere Lachaise!

Read also; Things to do near Pere Lachaise cemetery

Who is Jim Morrison?

First of all, let me remind you of who Jim Morrison is and tell you a little more about him! He is one of the founders of The Doors. Jim Morrison was a French poet and a singer, and definitely one of the most famous people in rock history! He was an amazing performer and quickly became an icon among youngsters. Morrison, like many other rock and roll artists, had an odd nickname. He was dubbed ‘The Lizard King,’ and the moniker lasted with him when he entered the music industry.

Morrison’s music like him was revolutionary, inspiring some of the greatest musicians, famous artists, and writers of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. He was only 27 years old when he died in Paris. He was buried in the Père Lachaise Cemetery. Since then, fans from all around the world come to see his grave, making it one of the most visited tombs in the cemetery.

Read also; 10 Unusual Day Trips from Paris

thebestwaytofindjimmorrisonsgraveinperelachaise1

James Douglas Morrison famously known as Jim Morrison was born in Melbourne, Florida in the United States in 1943. His father worked for the US Navy and his mother was a housewife. He had a very strict upbringing, which is why he always challenged authority.

Jim Morrison always had a curious nature and always craved knowledge, he used to read and write a lot. Allen Ginsberg, William Blake, Arthur Rimbaud, and James Joyce are some of his favorite authors. As time went by, Morrison grew up and his rebellious spirit also grew stronger.

At 20 years old, he moved to California on his own to study cinema at UCLA in Los Angeles. It was during this time that he met all the members of The Doors, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, guitarist Robby Krieger, and drummer John Densmore and that’s when he started writing lyrics. The oppositional youth started taking shape, leading to the hippy movement and growing criticism over the Vietnam War.

In 1965, he obtained his diploma in him and founded The Doors the same year. His talents were soon spotted. His tight pants, his mesmerizing voice and look, his moves thrilled the fans. They were witnessing the birth of a rock star legend. Jim Morrison has been acknowledged as a major inspiration for the gothic rock genre and has continued to inspire musicians for decades.

The Doors music was (and still is) unique and particularly innovating for the time. A mix of psychedelic rock, jazz, pop, and blues creates a music phenomenon that marked the spirit of the public. “Break on through”, “Light my fire”, “Riders of the Storm”, “People are strange” are some of the most loved rock songs ever produced!

Read also; Top 10 fun facts about Jim Morrison

Where is Jim Morrison buried?

One of the most frequently asked questions about Jim Morrison’s life is: where is Jim Morrison buried?

Although a lot of people claim he should be buried in his hometown in Melbourne in the United States, the Pere Lachaise Cemetery has not received any proposals to remove Jim Morrison’s grave site from there.

Actually, the only people who could ask for such a request are his family members, whom to this day respect Jim Morrison’s own decision to be buried in this specific cemetery, near one of his favorite writers, Oscar Wilde.

So, where is Jim Morrison buried? There are 14 cemeteries in Paris proper, with three of them attracting millions of tourists each year; Pere Lachaise (in the east), Montmartre (in the north), and Montparnasse (in the south).

Pere Lachaise Cemetery is both the city’s most prestigious and the world’s most visited cemetery. More than a million people have been buried there, and more than 3 million people come each year. Jim Morrison’s grave and final resting place is and will remain located at Pére Lachaise Cemetery in Paris for a long time.

The Lachaise cemetery was founded by Napoleon in 1804, and it now shelters famous graves of some notable writers and artists. Michel Ney, Frédéric Chopin, Honore de Balzac, Gertrude Stein, Émile Waldteufel, Édith Piaf, Marcel Proust, Georges Méliès, Marcel Marceau, Sarah Bernhardt, Oscar Wilde, Thierry Fortineau, J.R.D. Tata, Gertrude Stein,  and Sir Richard Wallace are among those buried in Père Lachaise.

Read also; In the footsteps of Jim Morrison in Paris

Why was he buried in Pere Lachaise?

thebestwaytofindjimmorrisonsgraveinperelachaise2

Jim Morrison was having much trouble dealing with all the crowd’s attention and the media. He developed an alcohol and substance abuse and dependence. Morrison struggled with alcoholism for most of his adult life, exhibiting erratic conduct both on and off the stage. At the beginning of the 70’s, he tried to shift away from The Doors and in spring of 1971, he decided to move to Paris with his lover, Pamela Courson.

Unfortunately, Morrison didn’t resist the addictions and was found dead in his bathtub in July, 3rd of 1971. The official report stated that he died from a heart attack, but it is still kind of a mystery. There were speculations that Morrison died of a heroin overdose in a Parisian bar’s restroom and he was carried out the back door by two of his mates and placed in the tub although no proof could back them up.

You might be wondering why Jim Morrison was buried in the Pere Lachaise cemetery, and his body didn’t return to his family.

A few weeks before his death, he went to visit the cemetery. He walked the Pere Lachaise’s alleys for hours. He saw the tombs of several important figures, but above all, he wanted to see Oscar Wilde’s grave, which was one of his idols. That is when he decided he wanted to be buried next to him and to all the great figures that rested in this cemetery, and why he ended up in Père Lachaise.

What is the easiest way to get there?

The Pere Lachaise cemetery opens at 8 AM from Monday to Friday. On Saturday it opens at 8.30 AM, and on Sundays, it opens at 9 AM. It always closes at 6 pm.

If you want to have a peaceful moment near Jim Morrison’s grave, I strongly advise you to get there before 10 AM. After this hour, people start arriving and there also are some guided tours. These will ruin the silence.

Read also; Don’t Break the Bank: 30 Free Amazing Things to Do in Paris

The best way to find Jim Morrison’s grave in Pere Lachaise is to enter the cemetery by one of the main entrances, located on Boulevard de Ménilmontant. You can reach this entrance, stopping at Père Lachaise or Philippe Auguste metro stations on line 2.

thebestwaytofindjimmorrisonsgraveinperelachaise3

Then, you have to walk up the big alley until the first intersection. Turn right on Avenue du Puits, inside the cemetery. At some point, the Avenue du Puits becomes Avenue Casimir Périer. Don’t worry, keep walking this alley until you reach a roundabout, which is “rond point” in French.

Once you’ve reached the Casimir Perier roundabout, take your first right and walk down to the next intersection. At the intersection, go right on Chemin Lauriston. Walk again until the alley divides into two alleys. Then, go to your left. Usually, you will see some people standing close to Jim Morrison’s grave, so you will easily find it!

Read also; Pere Lachaise Cemetery Guided Tour – Specialty Tours

Once you’ve reached Jim Marrison’s grave, you will probably be astonished, because his grave is quite modest and discreet. It’s been through several changes throughout the years, because some fans used to trash the grave. But it really is isolated and kind of “cheap” for such a legend! But the truth is that it doesn’t really matter, because he lives on in our hearts.

thebestwaytofindjimmorrisonsgraveinperelachaise20

Alternatively, you can follow this red path I draw on Google Maps that leads you from the metro station Philippe Auguste straight into the entrance of the Pére Lachaise Cemetery and you’ll easily get to Jim Morrison’s grave site.

Read also; 10 Best Restaurants near Père Lachaise Cemetery

Follow our other routes on the map below.

A Few Fun Facts about Jim Morrison

  • Jim Morrison’s grave site has been highly visited by fans all over the place, resulting in an overcrowded cemetery in specific times of the year, especially on Jim Morrison’s birthday, the 8th of December. For example, on 8th December 1983, the day of what would have been his fortieth anniversary, four thousand people were seen at Jim Morrison’s grave site to show their honors and respect for this Rock’n’Roll Legend.
  • Morrison and the Doors did have the chance to perform at the legendary Woodstock in 1969. However, they turned down the chance to be there, though a few different reasons are given as to why. According to Ray Manzarek, the key player of The Doors, passing on the concert was simply a stupid decision, while others claimed that Jim Morrison disliked performing outdoors. Regardless, The Doors drummer John Densmore went to Woodstock independently of the band, performing with Joe Cocker.
  • Jim Morrison’s grave site has been constantly vandalized not only by random people but also by his fans as a weird act of rebellion against authority. People have also been seen sticking bubble gum near Jim Morrison’s grave site as a way of saying “I was here”.
  • Jim Morrison has influenced many people over the years on questioning themselves about authority and the way society imposes rules on us. One of Jim Morrison remarkable acts of disobedience was on September, 17th of 1967 when the Doors were invited to perform at Ed Sullivan’s show. Ed Sullivan was not happy with the lyrics of “Light my Fire” and asked Jim Morrison to change the line “Girl, we couldn’t get much higher” to “Girl, we couldnt get much better“. Jim Morrison agreed, but then during the live performance, he sang Light my Fire with the original lyrics. Ed Sullivan told them they weren’t welcome back on the show again in which Jim Morrison replied “Hey, man, so what? We just did The Ed Sullivan Show“.

Read also; Secrets of Parisian Cemeteries

You now know the best way to find Jim Morrison’s grave in Pere Lachaise! I also advise you to read this article to know a little more about the cemetery itself, and to join our Marais tour because Morrison lived in an apartment in this neighborhood. Walking the area will somehow allow you to feel closer to him. I hope you’ve enjoyed reading this article and that it has been useful to you. Don’t hesitate to contact us if you need further information about anything! See you soon in Paris!

Updated by Farah in July 2022.

Discover Walks

Planning a trip to Paris ? Get ready !


These are Amazon’s best-selling travel products that you may need for coming to Paris.

Bookstore

  1. The best travel book : Rick Steves – Paris 2023 – Learn more here
  2. Fodor’s Paris 2024 – Learn more here

Travel Gear

  1. Venture Pal Lightweight Backpack – Learn more here
  2. Samsonite Winfield 2 28″ Luggage – Learn more here
  3. Swig Savvy’s Stainless Steel Insulated Water Bottle – Learn more here

Check Amazon’s best-seller list for the most popular travel accessories. We sometimes read this list just to find out what new travel products people are buying.