Arizona Tribune - Dead famous: Paris puts heritage graves up for grabs

Both historic cemeteries, which attract tourists from across the globe, have been overcrowded since the start of the 20th century.

But residents are now being offered the chance to win eternal rest in abandoned heritage graves at the sites when the end finally comes -- as long as they agree to restore them first.

The authorities in the French capital launched a lottery on Monday, offering 30 monuments for sale in a raffle -- 10 at Pere-Lachaise, 10 at Montparnasse and 10 at Montmartre.

"Within the first 24 hours we had 1,000 clicks on the application forms," Paul Simondon, a deputy to Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo, told AFP.

Candidates have to provide quotes from specialised stonemasons "to demonstrate that they are aware of the cost of the renovation, so there are no surprises", said Simondon, who is in charge of funeral affairs.

If the restoration and purchase conditions are not met, "the sale of the monument is cancelled and the buyer loses their investment", the authorities warn.

Simondon said the scheme will allow families to think of buying a funeral plot in central Paris for the first time.

The first draw is a trial run for a scheme that the city could extend, the official said, adding that there was an "ecological interest" in reusing burial plots.

F.Wilson--AT