Cimetière des Rois (Plainpalais Cemetery)

The Cimetière des Rois, or Cemetery of Kings, lies on the Boulevard des Philosophes in the Plainpalais district of Geneva, Switzerland, and serves as the city's pantheon. Despite the name, which dates to a medieval plague burial ground on the site known as the Kings' Cemetery, it contains no royal tombs. Instead it holds the graves of some of Geneva's and the world's most notable figures. The most famous is John Calvin, the Protestant reformer, whose grave is deliberately plain, marked only with the initials JC, in keeping with the Reformation's rejection of ostentation. Other burials include the Argentine writer Jorge Luis Borges, who chose to live and die in Geneva, and the child psychologist Jean Piaget, as well as scientists, politicians and artists from across the city's history. The tombs are generally modest, shaded by trees and set along gravel paths, giving the place a calm, contemplative air that reflects Protestant sobriety. Visitors can find the notable graves using the map at the entrance, and a walk through takes roughly 30 minutes. The cemetery is open every day, with longer hours in summer, and entry is free. It is usually quiet, with the occasional tour group, and weekday mornings are the most peaceful. Visitors should behave respectfully, keep voices low and avoid disturbing mourners. The cemetery sits a short walk from the Plaine de Plainpalais and the Musée d'Ethnographie, and it combines naturally with the flea market or a visit to MAMCO. Photography of the graves is generally tolerated for personal use, but flash and intrusive shooting near mourners should be avoided. Trams 12 and 14 stop at Plainpalais, around five minutes' walk away.