The French take their gastronomy and their football (better known to Americans as food and soccer) very seriously. But they also seem to take great pride in their well-maintained cemeteries, which makes for a brand of sightseeing not always common in the United States.

Pere Lachaise, the most famous graveyard of the bunch, was built under Napoleon in 1804, and is home to more than 300,000 restful residents spread over a vast, hilly expanse of opulent tombs and, in a few cases, outright monuments. Pere Lachaise and its renowned counterpart, the Cimitiere Montparnasse, have long been coveted resting places for the rich and famous, and they house a number of famous figures, from rock stars like Jim Morrison to classical composers like Camille Saint-Saens.

The cemeteries inspire a few unusual habits. Oscar Wilde’s angel-winged grave at Pere Lachaise, for example, bears the lipstick marks of countless fans. And the shared tombstone of existentialists Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir is covered with subway tickets and, presently, a note reading, “Thank you, Mr. Sartre, for existing.”