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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The tomb of the Constant-Dufeux family, located in division 11 of the Montparnasse cemetery in Paris 14e, is a funerary monument classified as a Historical Monument. Built in the 3rd quarter of the 19th century (although the initial period mentioned was the 2nd quarter), it is distinguished by its careful architecture, attributed to Victor Marie Charles Ruprich-Robert (architect) and Émile Legrain (ornemanist). The tomb, owned by the commune of Paris, has been fully protected since a classification order dated 21 July 2025, covering parcel 9, section AL of the cadastre.

This monument is part of a series of remarkable burials in the Montparnasse cemetery, alongside other tombs classified as those of Charles Baudelaire (cenotaphe), the Dumont d'Urville family, or Antoine Chrysostom Quatremère de Quincy. These associations highlight the heritage importance of the site, reflecting both the 19th century funeral art and the memory of the intellectual or scientific figures of the time. The precise location of the tomb, although noted as "passable" (level 5/10), is documented at the cemetery address, 3 Edgar-Quinet Boulevard.

The tomb Constant Dufeux illustrates the architectural and artistic practices of the Paris necropolises in the 19th century, where ornamentation and mortuary symbolism occupied a central place. Architects and artisans involved, such as Ruprich-Robert and Legrain, were often asked for public or private orders, marking the funeral landscape of Paris. The integration of this tomb into the Merimée base and its recent classification (2025) demonstrate a contemporary desire to preserve this heritage, while linking it to a wider network of neighbouring historical monuments.

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