The first to bury their dead were Neanderthals. They dug a small depression in the ground, in the sleeping pose they laid it in the pit of the deceased fellow, pelted him with flowers and covered with stones. Since then, the burial traditions have not changed much, except that cremation has appeared. It is believed that death and beauty are incompatible things. In the modern world, cemeteries have become not only a sanctuary for burial, but also a place where you can think about the meaning of life. Let's visit the most beautiful cemeteries in the world to make sure that these are indeed the places of philosophical fusion of fleeting life and eternity.
16 most beautiful cemeteries in the world:
1
Waverly. Sydney. Australia
Waverley Cemetery is located on a high cliff in the eastern suburbs of Sydney between the beaches of Roveli and Bronte. The necropolis was founded in 1877.
Now in an area of 17 hectares there are about 50 thousand graves, and the total number of burials is estimated at 86 thousand. In addition to the usual graves, there are crypts and columbaria. Most of the monuments and crypts are made in the style of the Victorian era, which is why the cemetery received the status of a historical place. Australia's recognized literary classic poet Henry Lawson is buried here, as well as the first Prime Minister of the Green Continent Edmund Barton.
From a high cliff you can admire the sunrise, behind the somersaults of surfers, or just breathe in the fresh ocean breeze.
2
Per Lachaise. Paris. France
The most visited cemetery in the world is located in the east of the French capital. It dates back to May 1804.
At first, the cemetery was far from the city, but now it is part of Menilmontan Boulevard. Here is the wall of the Communards, in which in 1871 the participants of the Paris Commune were shot. The owners of the site, in order to give the place popularity, have achieved the reburial of the remains of Lafontaine and Moliere on it. Among other celebrities here are Oscar Wilde, Chopin, Edith Piaf, Jim Morrison.
On the territory of the hilly necropolis, in addition to the graves, two monuments are installed. In 1899, the “Monument to the Dead” was erected, the sculptor of which was Albert Bartolome. And in 2005, a monument was erected in honor of the participants of the French Resistance movement.
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3
Punta Arenas. Chile
Photo by: Matito | flicr
Between the streets of Angamos and Francisco Bilbao in the north of Punta Arenas lies a necropolis, which CNN estimates is considered one of the most beautiful cemeteries on the planet.
The first burials appeared here in April 1894. Now the entire site is occupied and the city authorities have allocated a new place for burials. In 1919, the architect Fortunato Circutti erected beautiful arches-entrances and walls. Chapels of the famous surnames of Chile are built on the territory. Between the crypts and graves, pyramids of majestic cypresses rushed up.
Photo by Christopher Michel | flicr
There are many beautiful legends associated with the cemetery. One of them says that Sarah Brown, who visited the historical site of Patagonia, ordered to close the gate behind her, and not open until her death. The ministers clearly fulfilled the request of the famous native of the Russian Empire.
4
Roman non-Catholic cemetery. Rome. Italy.
Also known as the Roman English cemetery on which the Protestants rest. The first English student who fell from a horse was buried here in 1738. History retained his name Langton and the age of death is 25 years.
Representatives of non-Catholic faith who were dying in Rome continued to be buried here, but the picturesque place within Rome received the official cemetery status in 1821. Such a decision was made by the authorities of Rome due to the fact that more and more people began to travel, but mostly students who were engaged in Roman educational institutions were buried here.
An interesting case is that two young poets John Keats and Percy Shelley are buried here. Shelley was found drowned on the beach, and in his pocket was Keats's book.
5
Mirogoj. Zagreb Croatia
At the foot of the majestic Mount Medvednica in the estate of the linguist Ludevit Gaya in the XIX century, a burial place was formed for the inhabitants of Zagreb. Officially, the cemetery dates back to 1876.
Austrian architect Hermann Bolle developed the project and created a real work of architecture. The interior of one of the walls, he created an arcade in the Renaissance style. The arches exhibited memorial sculptures. In the arcades are the crypts of famous Croatian families and famous personalities.
The high arches support the arches that are entwined with ivy. The floors are tiled. All in colors. There is an Orthodox church here. And also the place where German soldiers are buried. Necropolis Park has become one of the most visited places in Zagreb.
6
Merry Cemetery. Sepinza. Romania
The “Merry Cemetery” in the village of Sepyntsa is known to the whole world for its painted gravestones and original epitaphs. Some of them are written in verse.
The drawings are made in the style of naive art, and poetry has become real masterpieces of literature. They briefly describe a man who rests on Merry Cemetery.
For example, the drunkard is depicted with a bottle in his hands, and the skillful blacksmith for making the symbol of happiness is a horseshoe.
The idea came to the mind of a local woodcarver, Stan Jon Patrash. In 1935, he carved the first "funny" epitaph. This is a real open-air museum. Tourists come to this part of Romania to feel the difference between the classic burial places and such an original necropolis.
7
Highgate. London. England
The most famous cemetery in London is located in the eponymous district of the capital of Britain, and its history began in 1839. It was at this time that they created a project to create seven burial places, which are called the "Magic Seven".
It is famous for its unusual designs of graves, high cedars and peculiar architecture. In the Victorian era, it was an honor to get a burial place here. The most famous grave is the grave of Karl Marx. 170,000 people rest in a necropolis in a picturesque park, including artist Lucien Freud, writer George Eliot and other famous literary figures.
Buried in the prestigious cemetery of London and the poisoned Russian Alexander Litvinenko. Due to the high radioactivity of his body, he rests in a lead coffin.
8
Bonaventure. Savannah. USA
A rural cemetery lurks on the scenic cliff of the Wilmington River. At first, the unremarkable necropolis became famous in 1994, when it was shown in the movie "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil", filmed from the novel of the same name.
Today it is one of the largest urban burial sites, covering an area of 160 acres. At the entrance, visitors are greeted by the huge "Gaston's Tomb." It dates back to 1846. In 1867, John Muir, traveling around the United States, spent all his money. Arriving in Savannah, he lived at the cemetery for 6 days and six nights, after which he wrote one of the books “Camping in Tombs”.
In 1997 it received the status of a historical landmark, and now it is open for tourists from 8 am to 5 pm. The entrance is free.
9
South Park Street. Calcutta. India
Founded in 1767, this cemetery is now surrounded by green thickets. Officials and rulers of the colonial period of the Indian era rest on it.
It is located on Mother Teresa Sarani Street, and earlier this path was called the Grave Road. As soon as they began to bury it, the cemetery became one of the largest beyond the spread of the Christian faith and the largest extra-church cemetery. In 1830, ceased to bury on it and now South Park Street is under the protection of the Archaeological Service of India.
Famous figures of the colonial period are buried on it, and massive monuments and highly artistic sculptures stand above the burials. Epitaphs can be used to study the history and life of the city.
10
Recoleta. Buenos Aires. Argentina
Photo by: HalloweenHJB
On the necropolis of Buenos Aires rests the elite of the Argentinean society, famous families and famous personalities of the country. It was founded in 1822.
Here they found the last refuge of the personality of the golden era, when in the period from 1822 to 1930 Buenos Aires was considered the richest city in the world. The cemetery itself is part of a vast architectural and historical district. The name of the district went from the monastery. The richest people of the country, officials, cultural and art workers, scientists lived in this part of the city. After death, all of them rest in the eternal silence of the “Ricoleta”.
The necropolis, according to most-beauty.ru, is a real museum of the past of Argentina. The magnificent “City of the Dead” helps foreigners understand the soul of the Latin American state.
11
Mount of Olives. Jerusalem. Israel
The most expensive necropolis in the world is located in the heart of Jerusalem. The age of the first burials exceeds 2,500 years.
The mountain is also called the Mount of Olives, because of the famous sermon of Jesus with that name. The cemetery occupies the southern and western slopes of the sacred mountain. Nowadays there are very few burials on it, but it can rightfully be considered that this is the oldest of the now existing cemeteries. It is believed that the Messiah will rise to the top of this mountain, blow the trumpet and the dead will rise from the graves.
The Jews try to make a pilgrimage to the holy place, and tourists visit the necropolis to get in touch with history. Here lie the famous prophets, victims of the Jewish pogroms, as well as Jews who wished to be buried at a religious shrine.
12
Abney Park. England
At the beginning of the 18th century, Lady Mary Abney and Dr. Isaac Watson created a beautiful park in this area of London. In 1840, famous inhabitants of the English capital began to be buried here.
It received its name in honor of Thomas Abney, who was Lord Mayor of London in 1700-1701. At this place stood his house, but in 1830 it was demolished. Municipal authorities for a long time did not agree with the status of the burial place, but by 1880 all legal and financial disputes were resolved.
Now it is a nature reserve where everyone can come. A magnificent place where among the old graves and majestic centuries-old trees to think about the meaning of life.
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13
Okunoin. Koya-san. Japan
Photo Credit: Adam Jones | flicr
The oldest Japanese necropolis is a sacred place for every Japanese. UNESCO has made Okunoin a World Heritage Site.
The first temple was erected by the monk Kobo Daisi back in the 9th century, and now there are 117 cultural and religious buildings on the sacred site. In each of them, tourists and pilgrims can stay for the night. Buddhist monks were buried around the temple complex.
Photo Credit: Adam Jones | flicr
Under the branches of magnificent cedars, more than 200,000 monks rest. In addition, memorials were erected on the territory in honor of the famous military leaders of Japan. In 2011, a monument was erected in memory of those killed in the earthquake.
14
American Military Cemetery. Normandy. France
The severity and minimalism of the military cemetery make you think about peace, the prevention of world wars. American soldiers who died during the Second World War are buried on it.
A total of 9,388 graves are located on a vast territory. Above each soldier is a simple white cross. Soldiers of other faiths were given special crosses. On the monuments under which the Americans of the Jewish faith lay, the stars of David are set.
The first burials appeared on this site on June 8, 1944. It buried the Americans who died during the landing in Normandy. This was a temporary measure. It was supposed to eventually transport the dead to their homeland, but then the temporary burial site became a memorial in memory of the dead.
15
Novodevichye. Moscow. Russia
Outside the walls of the Novodevichy Convent, there is a cemetery on which the well-known Russian politicians, cultural and art workers, athletes, clergy lie.
In 1525 a monastery was founded, and nuns were buried near it. In modern times, the history of the cemetery dates back to 1904. It was rebuilt several times, expanded and now it occupies an area of almost 7.6 hectares. According to the plan, these are two large necropolises - the old and the new. Famous writers, poets, artists are buried in the old one. On the new lie famous personalities of the Soviet era and the new Russia.
The largest "city of the dead" in Moscow remains operational, and has also become an important tourist attraction on the map of the Russian capital.
16
New York Woodlon. USA
Perhaps this is one of the most architecturally expressive cemeteries in the world. And all because the land here is very expensive and only rich people could afford a place in the cemetery. Especially expensive land was in places of the greatest traffic.
Photo by: Ilya Varlamov | https://varlamov.ru/
In addition to the usual gravestones, there are a lot of mausoleums. Some of them are made in the form of copies of famous architectural structures with many beautiful sculptures. People built themselves mausoleums during their lifetime, so they tried to make them expensive and beautiful. Perhaps this is one of the cemeteries that every architect will visit with pleasure.
Conclusion
Cemeteries are very curious and attractive places, especially when you are young. We have described only 15, but the book of Lauren Rhodes is called "199 cemeteries that you must see before you die." The novel is mostly philosophical, but travel agencies offer such routes through unusual and beautiful necropolises for the living. The editors of most-beauty.ru asks you to write in the comments which beautiful cemeteries you liked more than the rest. And if we missed no less beautiful places of rest, write to us about them.
Below we will present some more photos of beautiful cemeteries: