# The Passy Cemetery: A Quiet Walk and Paris in December Near Trocadéro

A small cemetery in the 16th, tower views, and how to visit without treating the graves as a viewpoint

By Finzi

The Passy Cemetery occupies a compact plot at 2 Rue du Commandant-Schloesing, in the 16th arrondissement, a short walk from the Trocadéro palaces and the terraces that face the Eiffel Tower. Paris in December is full of people heading exactly to those terraces, then wondering what else is nearby when the light fades at 5 p.m. This cemetery is a quieter, ticket-free stop, with paths you can walk in 45 to 60 minutes. From some points you can see the tower over the monuments. That is not a reason to use a grave as a camera stand.

This guide explains how to enter, what to expect, and how to keep the visit decent. Opening hours shrink in winter. Confirm them on the City of Paris cemetery pages, and do not arrive near closing.

# Paris in december, and why a small cemetery can fill an hour

Paris in december is cold, decorated, and busy in the obvious places. Trocadéro in the late afternoon can be packed. A nearby cemetery will not give you a Christmas market, and it should not. It gives you a short, contained walk, some remarkable tombs, and a break from the main esplanade.

The month suits the place. The trees are bare, the air is clear on some days, and you are less likely to share every path with a large group. Dress for wind. The 16th can feel exposed on a grey afternoon.

A simple plan:

• Visit late morning or early afternoon, not at the edge of closing.
• Walk the main paths first, then look for a specific grave if you have one in mind.
• Leave before you get cold enough to rush, and continue to a museum or a café.

The Palais de Chaillot museums, the Jardins du Trocadéro, and the streets of Passy are all close if you want a second stop.

# What kind of cemetery this is

Passy is one of the smaller communal cemeteries in Paris. It opened in the early 19th century and still feels enclosed, almost like a walled garden of stone. The scale is closer to a neighborhood ground than to Père Lachaise or Montparnasse.

Among those buried here are painters, composers, and public figures, including Édouard Manet, Berthe Morisot, Claude Debussy, and Gabriel Fauré, along with many others. A current plan at the gate, if available, is more useful than a memorized list.

Because the ground is small, you can see a lot without getting lost. That also means you should move gently. There is less room to step away from a monument if a path is blocked.

# Getting there

The cemetery is in the 16th, 75016 Paris, at 2 Rue du Commandant-Schloesing, near the Trocadéro.

• Metro line 6 or 9: Trocadéro is the usual station. From there it is a short walk, with a little up and down.
• On foot: Easy from the Palais de Chaillot, from Avenue Kléber, or from the Passy neighborhood to the south.

The entrance is easy to miss if you are looking only at the tower. Watch for the cemetery wall and the official gate. Admission is free during opening hours.

In December the official closing time can be mid-afternoon. If you arrive at 3:30 p.m. in midwinter, you may have only a brief window, or you may be too late. Check the same morning.

# How to walk it, and how to treat the view

Stay on the paths. Do not stand on plinths to clear a shot of the Eiffel Tower. If a view of the tower appears over a row of tombs, you can notice it and move on. The people buried here did not become a viewing platform.

Speak quietly. Keep children close, not because the place is dangerous, but because the alleys are tight and the monuments are close to the path. If you have a stroller, test the first alley before you commit. Some paths are narrow and include steps.

Wet December stone is slippery. Wear shoes with grip.

# Who it is for, and who should pick another walk

This visit fits travelers already in the Trocadéro or Passy area who want a short, serious walk. It also fits people who like cemeteries as historical ground, not as a gimmick.

It is a weaker choice if you wanted a long ramble, if you are in a hurry for sunset on the terrace, or if your group is not willing to be quiet. In those cases, stay on the esplanade or walk down through the gardens.

Americans sometimes come for a particular grave. If that is you, confirm the location in advance and still give the rest of the ground a little time.

# Combining the cemetery with the rest of the 16th

A good December sequence is the cemetery first, while your hands are still warm, then a museum in the Palais de Chaillot or a short walk into Passy for coffee and errands. If you already have tickets for a nearby exhibition, do not let the cemetery eat the buffer you need to reach the door.

The Trocadéro terraces will still be there afterward. They are often more pleasant when you are not trying to squeeze a second, quieter visit into the last 20 minutes of light.

If you want pictures of the tower, do that on the public terraces, not on a family tomb. A planned Paris photography session belongs on streets, bridges, and gardens that are meant for lingering, not in a cemetery aisle. For an overview of session types in the city, see photographers-paris.com.

# Practical pointers

• Check December closing hours the same day.
• Enter at 2 Rue du Commandant-Schloesing, near Trocadéro.
• Allow 45 to 60 minutes, plus walking time from the metro.
• Do not climb monuments for a tower photograph.
• Dress for wind, even if the rest of your day is indoor.

# Quick answers

Is the Passy Cemetery worth a stop in paris in december? Yes, if you are already near Trocadéro and want a short, free, quieter walk, and if you arrive well before closing.

Where is it? 2 Rue du Commandant-Schloesing, 75016 Paris.

Do you need a ticket? No, during official opening hours.

How long should you spend? 45 minutes to an hour is enough.

Can you see the Eiffel Tower from inside? From some points, yes. That is not the purpose of the visit.

Is it as large as Père Lachaise? No. It is much smaller, which is part of why it works as a brief winter stop.

# Sources

• City of Paris pages on the Cimetière de Passy, including seasonal hours
• RATP information for metro lines 6 and 9, station Trocadéro
• Official or on-site plans for notable graves
• photographers-paris.com: the sessions page and the homepage