A Grave Hobby: Why Do People Visit Cemeteries I don’t know who coined it, but apparently, they have a word for people whose hobby it is to visit cemeteries- taphophiles. Tombstone tourism isn’t new. People have been visiting cemeteries as a part of a pilgrimage to honor and remember their ancestors. The many garden cemeteries built around the 19th century encouraged this interest further. The Pere Lachaise cemetery in Paris is the first garden cemetery of its kind and is certainly the largest in the city. The Montmartre Cemetery is another of Paris’ famous garden cemeteries and the final resting place of hundreds of famous people including Alexandre Dumas and Auguste Feyen-Perrin. So why do people go graveyard- hopping? Genealogy: If you love looking up family history, there could be no better place than cemeteries to help you with the research. Genealogists look for birth and death dates and perhaps gain insight into the people. For example, their loved ones, their profession, etc. And if it is a family burial plot, you can find information about their relatives. Funeral homes also keep records about the people buried there. Don’t be surprised if you find financial records and insurance details of the deceased. Ghost Stories: Cemeteries can be eerily beautiful. No wonder, they’re the centerpiece of every ghost story and movie. People have always been curious about ghosts. And what better place than a cemetery to experience an adrenaline rush? If you love to explore the unknown and are genuinely interested in stories where people are known to rise from the dead, the cemetery is the place to visit. For example, the Catacombs of Paris are known for their paranormal activities. No wonder, most of the tunnels are closed to the public- there are stories of people getting lost or hearing ghostly voices. Architecture: For thousands of years, people have been honoring the dead- either by leaving food near their tombstones or by decorating their burial places. Over the years, art and architecture related to the dead have gathered a huge fan following. Some art pieces are elaborate and magnificent. Dale Dunlop of The Maritime Explorer has chronicled some of the famous cemeteries around the world, including the Montmartre Cemetery in Paris.
Author Bio: I am a lover of cemeteries! And I have visited hundreds of cemeteries around the world, including the famous Montmartre cemetery in Paris. I love the art, history, and iconography associated with cemeteries.