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Origin and history

The Pennesières Cemetery is a historic monument located in the commune of Pennesières, Haute-Saône. Built in 1822 by architect René Attiret, it is distinguished by its circular shape, a rare feature in France. This cemetery was built a little away from the village, in line with the recommendations of the time to move the burial sites away from the urban centres. It incorporates a south porch flanked by two rectangular chapels, illustrating a renewed funeral architecture.

This cemetery is part of a historical context marked by a reform of funeral practices. In 1785 Louis XVI had ordered the displacement of cemeteries outside cities for health and urban reasons. René Attiret, inspired by the architectural theories of his predecessors, designed this cemetery using local materials, offering a simplified but innovative interpretation of the principles of funeral architecture of the time. The site, including a wash fountain, was listed as a historic monument on August 3, 2004.

The circular cemetery of Pennesières thus bears witness to an architectural and social transition in the early nineteenth century. It reflects the hygienist and urban concerns of the time, while offering a remarkable example of funeral heritage. Its simultaneous construction with two fountains also highlights its integration into a wider project of communal development, typical of the local initiatives of this period.

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