The Les Champeaux cemetery in Montmorency is a remarkable site, both historically and culturally. It is located about 20 km north of Paris, in the Val-d'Oise department. The famous historic Parisian cemeteries of Père-Lachaise, Montmartre and Montparnasse contain many old Polish graves, but what makes the Montmorency cemetery unique is its strong ties to Poland and the role it played in the history of Polish emigration.

The cemetery was established in the 18th century, initially as a burial ground for the local Montmorency community. However, its history as an important place for Poles began in the early 19th century, when Montmorency became one of the centres of Polish political emigration after the fall of the November Uprising (1830-1831). It is worth explaining that this was a national liberation uprising aimed at liberating the Kingdom of Poland from Russian rule, which began with the first partition of Poland in 1772. Despite initial successes, the uprising ended in defeat. Repressions were introduced to destroy any further aspirations for independence, as reflected in the words of Tsar Nicholas I Romanov: "I do not know if there will ever be a Poland, but I am sure there will be no more Poles". As a result of the persecution that began, many Poles, especially those involved in the uprising, had to leave the country, fearing oppression by the Russian authorities. Most Polish émigrés settled in France, especially in Paris, which was a natural choice due to its republican traditions, liberal ideas and the support the country gave to the insurgents during the struggle. The largest Polish colony was established in Paris, which became the centre of political, cultural and intellectual activity of the émigrés. Polish émigrés in Paris formed various organisations to sustain Polish culture and support the struggle for independence. Among the most important of these were: The Polish National Committee (founded in 1831 by Joachim Lelewel, served as a government-in-exile and coordinated efforts to regain independence), the Polish Democratic Society (founded in 1832, promoting democratic and republican ideas), and the Hôtel Lambert (a monarchist conservative-liberal camp founded by Adam Jerzy Czartoryski). The Great Emigration also had an enormous impact on the development of Polish culture and played a huge role in shaping the modern Polish national identity.

The suburban town of Montmorency became one of the favourite places of settlement for Polish émigrés, mainly because of its proximity to the capital and its idyllic atmosphere conducive to creative work. The first to discover the Montmorency area for Poles was the tuberculosis-stricken pianist and political columnist Maurycy Mochnacki, followed by the now elderly veteran of the Napoleonic Wars, one of the commanders of the Polish Legions in Italy, General Karol Kniaziewicz, who brought here his friend, the eminent poet and historian Julian Ursyn Niemcewicz. The latter was buried here, giving rise to a 170-year tradition of Polish burials. Montmorency soon became a popular holiday destination for members of the Polish community: visitors included Adam Mickiewicz, Prince Adam Czartoryski, Delfina Potocka and Fryderyk Chopin.

Since the corpse of Adam Mickiewicz, who had died in Istanbul, was brought here in 1856, and the remains of his wife Celina were transferred from Père-Lachaise, the Montmorency cemetery gradually became a substitute for the emigration's national pantheon. Initially, it was dominated by the funerals of people from the circle of Duke Adam Czartoryski and the Hôtel Lambert camp. Prince Adam Czartoryski himself and his family were buried here, as was his closest associate, Count Władysław Zamoyski. Also buried here are numerous members of the Polish political and cultural association that was the Paris Historical and Literary Society. From the end of the 19th century, Montmorency became an increasingly popular place for the burial of the Polish intelligentsia, representatives of the liberal professions, the clergy, people of culture, the aristocracy or creative, well-known and significant people, whose activities made a clear impression on the face of Polish life in exile and, at the same time, upheld the Polish cause in times of bondage. The Montmorency cemetery became a substitute for a national necropolis in exile - on the model of the 19th-century Wawel burials. The political, cultural and intellectual activities of the emigrants resting in this cemetery had a lasting impact on the development of Polish independence thought. The emigrants in Paris created visions of a future Poland, which was to be independent, democratic and free from foreign influence. After the Second World War, the cemetery was enlarged by the graves of participants in the Polish and French resistance movements, military men, prisoners of camps and those who responded to the introduction of the communist system in Poland by remaining in exile. For many years, Les Champeaux Cemetery in Montmorency remained an important place of pilgrimage for Poles living in France and those coming from Poland.

Today, there are almost 280 Polish graves in a small area. Les Champeaux Cemetery in Montmorency is not only a place of eternal rest, but also a testimony to the difficult history of Poland and its citizens abroad.

We would like to invite you to the Polish Library in Paris from 13 November to 31 January to an exhibition devoted to the cemetery and to the Poles buried there. The opening of the exhibition devoted to the cemetery will take place on 12 November!

Today, we invite you to visit

the gravestone of Olga Boznańska >>

the gravestone of Franciszka Granier >>

the gravestone of Cyprian Norwid >>

Tombstone of Bronisław Piłsudski >>.

Tombstone of Władysława Śliwińska >>

More monuments will soon be added to our database - welcome!