top 3 cemeteries in which it is good to stroll in Hauts-de-France

It's All Saints' Day this Friday, November 1, 2024, time to stroll through the cemeteries. Often open-air museums where you can enjoy walking. Military or landscaped, here is a selection of three cemeteries in Hauts-de-France.

Military or city dweller, in cemeteries, there is always a tomb which is worth the detour for its history. By the sea or inland, it's time to stroll through three cemeteries in Hauts-de-France during these All Saints' Day holidays.

Read also: MAP. For All Saints' Day, discover the 10 most beautiful cemeteries in France for an atypical stroll between park and museum

First stop at the Eastern Cemetery, built in 1779. It is located northeast of Lille (North), not far from the Euraflandres district. Curvilinear and tree-lined paths, the plandscapes are varied. We walk a few meters and come across tombs rich in history. “A large open-air garden and museum”exclaims Anne Hadoux, tourist guide.

More than 36,000 graves over an area of ​​22 hectares, the cemetery is the second largest funeral space in the capital of Flanders. What stands out about this place is the greenery. “Everything but a cemetery storybre. I like to cross it, from start to finish”says the author of Guide to the Eastern Cemetery.

In these places, a pond and more than 500 plant species. There are certain century-old trees such as plane trees or a Virginia tulip tree. To the rhythm of birds chirping, the paths of the cemetery invite you to get lost. In the nooks and crannies there are tombs which are worth the detour.

A summary of the history of Lille: “There are two graves of people who were born before the French Revolution”presents the guide. There are a plethora of ancient and sumptuous tombs with astonishing destinies in this cemetery. This is the case with the imposing monument of Louis Faidherbe, famous colonial administrator, born in Lille. When we continue our stroll in the Eastern cemetery, we come across the tomb of Pierre Mauroy, town hall of Lille between 1973 and 2001, or the marble of Roger Salengro, instigator of paid leave in the 1930s. More surprising, the tomb of Émile Dubuisson, the builder of the Lille Town Hall. On his grave, we find as distinctive signs a compass and a square.

For Anne Haudoux, the Eastern cemetery is by far the second most beautiful in France after that of Père-Lachaise in Paris. “I have a report emotional with this cemetery. My fathertook here When j’was barely old enough to walk.”she confides.

In the same vein of urban cemeteries, let's continue this All Saints' Day walk in a place classified as a Historic Monument since 1995. Stop at the Madeleine cemetery to the north-east of Amiens (Somme). It is a wooded park with “pretty tombs”, explains a stay advisor from the Amiens Tourist Office. It seduces visitors with its romantic side. The plants mingle with nearly 10,000 graves.

The most beautiful of them, the tShadow of the famous writer Jules Verne. His grave is titled Towards immortality and Eternal Youtha sort of representation of the resurrection. It is about a man lifting a tombstone with his back.

When you walk through the cemetery, you often come face to face with large trees planted during the 19th century. Some of them are classified as Remarkable Trees.

Head west along the coast to Berck (Pas-de-Calais). The place, close to the town church, a military cemetery. “There are no aisles, everything is in disarray”describes Jean-Max Gonsseaume, local historian. It’s a place covered only by marble and granite.” This place consists of several cemeteries in one.

A space is dedicated to the victims of the 14-18 war. This reveals a particular symbolic importance. Indeed, the town of Berck, with a large maritime hospital, made it possible to treat victims of the Great War. A unique monument dedicated to nurses who died for France pays homage to this history. This is the lying of a hurt on his stretcher.

In this cemetery, there is also an ordeal for sailors, in memory of the shipwrecked. “So many anecdotes that fascinate people”comments Jean-Max Gonsseaume.

For the curious, the historian has designed a map with the points of interest of the cemetery. This is available at the Berck Tourist Office.