On the Tree-Lined Paths of Père Lachaise Cemetery

Text and photos by Chen Chi-Hsiang. Mentioning Parisian cemeteries immediately brings to mind Père Lachaise, as it is the largest (43 hectares) and oldest in Paris. Many famous figures from past and present rest eternally here, renowned worldwide, making this cemetery the fourth most visited tourist site in Paris (over two million visitors annually), which is hard to imagine.

This visit was solely to pay respects at the grave of my friend "Jinglang," without specifically strolling through the cemetery. Near his grave, there are a few striking tombs. One new tomb (as shown in the photo) has flowers arranged on it year after year; it belongs to Atmet Kaya, a famous Turkish poet and musician who fled to Paris at a young age and died prematurely at only forty-three. Another tomb features two adventurers (statues lying together). Upon closer inspection, one learns that at the end of the 19th century, these two young adventurers perished heroically when their hot air balloon crashed from an altitude of 8,600 kilometers, inspiring admiration and reflection within the cemetery.