The Cimetiere de la Chartreuse, in the center of Bordeaux, often invites comparisons with Paris' Pere Lachaise cemetery. They both offer a tranquil (if melancholy) time-out spot in a busy city and a vision of death and memory as seen through the grandiose lens of the 19th century sensibility.
However, whereas Pere Lachaise is crammed with buzz-name celebs like Jim Morrison and Oscar Wilde, the Chartreuse Cemetery is somewhat more B-grade. Its most famous subject, the painter Goya, isn't even there - his body is in Spain, and his spot is just a memorial.
So stop celeb-spotting (unless you really must, must see the grave of Gaugin's grandmother) and instead enjoy the grandiose 19th century monuments - urns, garlands, pyramids, Grim Reapers and all.
You can get tramline A to the cemetery.
