Jim Morrison’s Grave at Père-Lachaise

Jim Morrison‘s grave is located at Père-Lachaise Cemetery in the 20th arrondissement of Paris, in Division 6. It’s one of the most visited spots in the cemetery — alongside the graves of Oscar Wilde, Édith Piaf, and Frédéric Chopin — drawing more than 3 million visitors a year.

Père-Lachaise sits in a leafy area of eastern Paris. Its 44 hectares are lined with mature trees that filter the light differently depending on the season, and more than 70,000 tombs are arranged in numbered divisions, like city blocks within a city.

Jim Morrison was the vocalist and poet of The Doors. He died in Paris on July 3, 1971, at the age of 27, in the apartment he shared with his girlfriend Pamela Courson in the Marais neighborhood.

Where Is Jim Morrison Buried?

Morrison’s grave is in Division 6 (6ème division in French) of Père-Lachaise Cemetery. To find it on Google Maps, search for: Cimetière du Père Lachaise, 16 rue du Repos, 6ème division, Chem. Lesseps.

Free maps are also usually available at the main entrance, with Jim Morrison’s grave marked prominently. The cemetery is large and the divisions aren’t always intuitive, so we strongly recommend picking up a map before you start exploring.

How to Get to Père-Lachaise Cemetery

The easiest way to reach Père-Lachaise is by metro. The closest stations are Philippe Auguste (Line 2) and Père Lachaise (Lines 2 and 3).

Hours and Admission

Admission is free.

Period	Mon–Fri	Saturday	Sun & Holidays
November to mid-March	8:00 AM – 5:30 PM	8:30 AM – 5:30 PM	9:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Mid-March to October	8:00 AM – 6:00 PM	8:30 AM – 6:00 PM	9:00 AM – 6:00 PM

If you want a few quiet minutes at Morrison’s grave before the crowds arrive, aim to get there close to opening time — especially on summer weekends, when foot traffic peaks. Guided tours of Père-Lachaise with specialist guides are also available.

Guided tours of the Père-Lachaise Cemetery are also available.

Accessibility

Most of Père-Lachaise is accessible for visitors with reduced mobility, though some paths have uneven cobblestones that may make wheelchair or walker navigation more difficult.

Visitors aged 75 and over, those with a disability card, or those with a recent medical certificate may enter by car through the main or Gambetta gates.

Rules to Know

Père-Lachaise is an active cemetery, and its rules reflect that. Alcohol and picnics are not permitted on the grounds. Dogs are not allowed, even on a leash. Bicycles and scooters must be left outside. Running is also prohibited.

For anyone planning a calm hour or two wandering among the graves, none of this is an obstacle. But if you were planning to bring wine and cheese to Jim Morrison’s grave, save that idea for after your visit.

What Does Jim Morrison’s Headstone Say?

The current headstone was placed in 1990, arranged by Morrison’s father, Admiral George Stephen Morrison. It’s a simple stone slab — no photo, no Doors logo, no reference to music.

The inscription is in Greek: KATA TON DAIMONA EAYTOY

The translation is roughly: “True to his own spirit” or “According to his own destiny.”

The stone also bears his full name — James Douglas Morrison — and his dates: 1943 — 1971.

Why Is Jim Morrison Buried at Père-Lachaise?

Morrison wasn’t passing through Paris when he died — he was living there. He had moved to the city in March 1971 with his girlfriend Pamela Courson, settling into an apartment on Rue Beautreillis in the Marais.

The move was partly an escape: from Los Angeles, from the Miami indecency trial, and from the mounting pressure around The Doors. In Paris, he wanted to focus on his poetry.

Morrison died on July 3, 1971, and was found in the bathtub of his apartment. Pamela Courson said he had woken in the night struggling to breathe and gone to take a bath; when she woke, she found him there. No autopsy was performed. The death certificate listed cardiac arrest.

He was buried on July 7, 1971. Père-Lachaise initially resisted the request, but permission was eventually granted on the grounds that Morrison was a poet, not a musician — a distinction the cemetery considered significant.

There are also accounts from people who spent time with Morrison in his final days in Paris that he visited Père-Lachaise the week before his death and expressed a wish to be buried there.

Can Jim Morrison’s Body Be Removed from the Cemetery?

No. Morrison’s plot at Père-Lachaise is a perpetual concession.

The question has come up because, over the decades, the cemetery administration faced serious problems linked to the site: constant graffiti, drug and alcohol use near the grave, and damage to the headstone itself. One cemetery official even publicly stated that he would remove Morrison if he could.

Over time, metal railings were installed around the grave, creating a protective perimeter. The headstone is still clearly visible and accessible, but direct access to the stone itself has been restricted.

What Happened to the Bust on Jim Morrison’s Grave?

In 1981, on the tenth anniversary of Morrison’s death, Croatian sculptor Mladen Mikulin installed a marble heavy bust at the grave. Over the following years it was repeatedly vandalized. In 1988, the bust was stolen — and for 37 years, no one knew where it was.

In May 2025, Paris police announced that the bust had been found by chance during a judicial operation targeting fraud.

Who Else Is Buried at Père-Lachaise?

The cemetery is a landmark in its own right. Beyond Morrison, notable graves include:

Oscar Wilde (Division 89) — the Irish writer who died in Paris in 1900.

Édith Piaf (Division 97) — France’s most internationally recognized chanteuse, who died in 1963.

Alain Bashung (Division 13) — one of France’s great rock and pop songwriters, who died in 2009.

Frédéric Chopin (Division 11) — the Polish composer who died in Paris in 1849.

The cemetery map lists the major graves with their divisions. If you want to make the most of your visit and pay respects at more than one, it’s worth planning a rough route before you go in.

Where Did Jim Morrison Live in Paris?

For those who want to go beyond the grave, we have a full guide to other Jim Morrison landmarks in Paris — including the apartment where he lived, the Place des Vosges where he found inspiration to write, and the cafés and shops he used to frequent.