Cimetière des Rois, allée centrale, Genève

The Cimetière des Rois (French: ''Cemetery of Kings'') (officially Cimetière de Plainpalais), is a cemetery in

Geneva Geneva ( ; french: Genève ) frp, Genèva ; german: link=no, Genf ; it, Ginevra ; rm, Genevra is the second-most populous city in Switzerland (after Zürich) and the most populous city of Romandy, the French-speaking part of Switzerland. Situa ...

Switzerland ). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...

. The cemetery is commonly named after la ''rue des Rois'' (French: ''Kings' Street'') near which it is situated. The graveyard was established in 1482 for people who died from

plague Plague or The Plague may refer to: Agriculture, fauna, and medicine *Plague (disease), a disease caused by ''Yersinia pestis'' * An epidemic of infectious disease (medical or agricultural) * A pandemic caused by such a disease * A swarm of pes ...

in the

Middle Ages In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire ...

, during the

second plague pandemic The second plague pandemic was a major series of epidemics of plague that started with the Black Death, which reached Europe in 1348 and killed up to half of the population of Eurasia in the next four years. Although the plague died out in most pl ...

Personalities

The right to rest in the cemetery of Plainpalais is strictly limited. Under Article 30 (3) of the City of Geneva Cemeteries Regulations, only "magistrates and distinguished personalities, having contributed by their life and activity to the influence of Geneva", p. 6. can claim a concession whose request must be made to the Administrative Council. In the cemetery are buried

John Calvin John Calvin (; frm, Jehan Cauvin; french: link=no, Jean Calvin ; 10 July 150927 May 1564) was a French theologian, pastor and reformer in Geneva during the Protestant Reformation. He was a principal figure in the development of the system ...

(the Protestant reformer),

Jorge Luis Borges Jorge Francisco Isidoro Luis Borges Acevedo (; ; 24 August 1899 – 14 June 1986) was an Argentine short-story writer, essayist, poet and translator, as well as a key figure in Spanish-language and international literature. His best-known b ...

(the Argentine author),

Sérgio Vieira de Mello Sérgio Vieira de Mello (; 15 March 1948 – 19 August 2003) was a Brazilian United Nations diplomat who worked on several UN humanitarian and political programs for over 34 years. The Government of Brazil posthumously awarded the Sergio Vieira ...

(the former

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, commonly known as the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) or the United Nations Human Rights Office, is a department of the Secretariat of the United Nati ...

Ernest Ansermet Ernest Alexandre Ansermet (; 11 November 1883 – 20 February 1969)"Ansermet, Ernest" in ''The New Encyclopædia Britannica''. Chicago: Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 15th edn., 1992, Vol. 1, p. 435. was a Swiss conductor. Biography Ansermet ...

(renowned Swiss conductor), and

Jean Piaget Jean William Fritz Piaget (, , ; 9 August 1896 – 16 September 1980) was a Swiss psychologist known for his work on child development. Piaget's theory of cognitive development and epistemological view are together called "genetic epistemolo ...

A full-color version of the published photo of Piaget's grave can be foun
here
although this is covered by copyright and permission is required from the APA for its re-use. (the noted developmental psychologist and epistemologist). The composers Frank Martin,

Humphry Davy Sir Humphry Davy, 1st Baronet, (17 December 177829 May 1829) was a British chemist and inventor who invented the Davy lamp and a very early form of arc lamp. He is also remembered for isolating, by using electricity, several elements for ...

Alberto Ginastera Alberto Evaristo Ginastera (; April 11, 1916June 25, 1983) was an Argentinian composer of classical music. He is considered to be one of the most important 20th-century classical composers of the Americas. Biography Ginastera was born in Buenos ...

, Denis de Rougemont, Griselidis Real and Alice Rivaz,

Jeanne de Salzmann Jeanne de Salzmann (born Jeanne-Marie Allemand) often addressed as Madame de Salzmann (January 26, 1889, Reims – May 24, 1990, Paris) was a French-Swiss dance teacher and a close pupil of the spiritual teacher G. I. Gurdjieff. Life Jean ...

, editor

François Lachenal François Paul Lachenal (Geneva 31 May 1918 – 22 August 1997) was a Swiss publisher and diplomat, who beginning in 1940 played a significant role in publishing the writings of the French authors during the occupation of France by Germany. He ...

Robert Musil Robert Musil (; 6 November 1880 – 15 April 1942) was an Austrian philosophical writer. His unfinished novel, '' The Man Without Qualities'' (german: link=no, Der Mann ohne Eigenschaften), is generally considered to be one of the most importan ...

and actor François Simon are also buried there. Politicians are also buried there, such as

Adrien Lachenal Adrien Lachenal (19 May 1849, in Geneva – 29 June 1918) was a Swiss politician and Jurist. He was president of the Swiss Confederation in 1869. Married to Anne Louise Eggly in 1878, he had four sons. He was affiliated to the Free Democratic Pa ...

( President of the Confederation),

Paul Lachenal Paul Lachenal (1884, Geneva – 1955) was a Swiss politician and philanthropist. He was born in Geneva as son of the Jean-François Lachenal and the Louise Marie born Gleckner. He studied law at the University of Geneva, which he completed in 1 ...

, Antoine Carteret, Willy Donzé, and

Gustave Moynier Gustave Moynier (21 September 1826 – 21 August 1910) was a Swiss Jurist who was active in many charitable organizations in Geneva. He was a co-founder of the "International Committee for Relief to the Wounded", which became the International Co ...

(President of the

Red Cross The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is a Humanitarianism, humanitarian movement with approximately 97 million Volunteering, volunteers, members and staff worldwide. It was founded to protect human life and health, to ensure re ...

Gallery

File:Tombe Calvin.jpg, Traditional grave of Calvin; the exact location of the grave in the cemetery is unknown File:Grab Jorge Luis Borges.JPG, The grave of

File:Cimetière des Rois, allée centrale, Genève.jpg, Central pathway, Plainpalais cemetery File:Tomb of Adrien Lachenal, Kings Cemetery, Geneva.jpg, The grave of Swiss President

File:Davygrave.jpg, The grave of notable British scientist

Sir Humphry Davy Sir Humphry Davy, 1st Baronet, (17 December 177829 May 1829) was a British chemist and inventor who invented the Davy lamp and a very early form of arc lamp. He is also remembered for isolating, by using electricity, several elements for the ...

File:Plan du cimetière des Rois, Genève.jpg, Map of the Kings Cemetery, Geneva

External links

Official website

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cimetiere des Rois Cemeteries in Switzerland Tourist attractions in Geneva Buildings and structures in Geneva