Paris city authorities launched a unique lottery this Sunday that will offer lucky winners eternal rest in abandoned historic tombs in exchange for their restoration.
The Paris cemetery system includes 634.000 plots, but being buried near iconic American musician and poet Jim Morrison in Père Lachaise or famous French writer Simone de Beauvoir in Montparnasse has so far remained a pipe dream, as historic cemeteries have been full since the early 20th century.
However, these places are full of abandoned graves whose historical value prevents their destruction.
Starting Monday, the Paris city hall is offering 30 monuments for sale via lottery: 10 in Pere Lachaise, 10 in Montparnasse and 10 in Montmartre.
As a sign of interest, "in the first 24 hours we had 1.000 clicks on the application forms," Paul Simondon, deputy mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo in charge of funeral matters, told AFP.
Applicants should "have certificates from specialist stone-cutting companies to show they are aware of the renovation costs, so there are no surprises," Simondon said.
If the conditions for restoration and purchase are not met, the sale of the monument is canceled and the buyer loses his investment, the Paris authorities added.
That restoration mechanism allows families for the first time to anticipate purchasing a burial site within city limits, Simondon said.
This first lottery is a test, and the city council is considering expanding the program, Simondon added, emphasizing the "environmental benefits" of reusing gravestones.
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