Fontanes received from Napoleon the charge of overseeing all the teaching in the country: first Grand Master of the Imperial University, he presided over the organisation of the lycées. A poet and journalist, he was Chateaubriand's closest friend. Count of the Empire, then marquis under the Restoration, he died in 1821. Restored in 2001, the carving nonetheless remains partly illegible.
The story
Louis de Fontanes did not only write verse: it was under his authority that the French lycées were organised. In 1808 Napoleon created the Imperial University to hold the whole of the country's teaching in one hand, and put him in charge of it — he was its first Grand Master, with a mandate to reform education.
Born at Niort on 6 March 1757, a poet and journalist, he was the intimate friend of Chateaubriand, met in a Paris salon during the Revolution — one of the most celebrated friendships in French letters. President of the Corps législatif from 1804, he was made a Count of the Empire, then a Marquis under the Restoration, and Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour.
He died in 1821. His grave in Division 37, a few steps from Marshal Ney's, was restored in 2001 by the Souvenir Français, the Fondation Napoléon and the ACMN, the association that watches over Napoleonic monuments — a joint intervention rare at Père-Lachaise.
The inscription, even so, remains partly illegible. The titles he received can still be made out, and nothing else: not the poet, not the journalist, not the friend of Chateaubriand.
The grave
A grave restored in 2001 by the ACMN, the Souvenir Français and the Fondation Napoléon — a joint intervention rare in Père-Lachaise. The inscription remains partly illegible; the titles can still be read: “Louis de FONTANES, 1757-1821, premier grand-maître de l'Université, grand-croix de la Légion d'honneur, comte de l'Empire, marquis.” — first Grand Master of the University, Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour, Count of the Empire, marquis. Neither the poet, nor the journalist, nor Chateaubriand's friend — only the titles received.
On site, do not miss
The main inscription is partly illegible, despite the restoration of 2001: one can make out “premier grand-maître de l'Université, grand-croix de la Légion d'honneur, comte de l'Empire, marquis” — first Grand Master of the University, Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour, Count of the Empire, marquis.
Visitors' questions
Where is Fontanes' grave?
In Division 37, chemin Masséna, first row, where he keeps company with two marshals of the Empire. The main inscription is partly illegible, despite the restoration of the grave carried out in 2001 by the Fondation Napoléon.
Marshal MacdonaldWhat was the Grand Master of the University?
The head of the institution Napoleon created to hold all French education in one hand. Fontanes was the first to occupy the post, charged with reforming the curriculum — it was under his authority that the lycées took shape.
Étienne LamyWhat was his link with Chateaubriand?
A close friendship, one of the most celebrated in the French letters of his generation. Fontanes was a poet and a journalist before he was a statesman, and his political career never put out that literary side.
Stanislas de BoufflersHas his grave been restored?
Yes, in 2001, thanks to the ACMN, the Souvenir Français and the Fondation Napoléon: the main inscription had become partly illegible. Joint interventions of that kind are rare in the cemetery.
Laurent Gouvion-Saint-CyrAudio guide to Père Lachaise: the best unusual guided tour!
Discover the secrets of the most astonishing tombs
the audio guidefrom€6.99