St Charles Borromeo Cemetery Church in Vienna Central Cemetery, one of the largest graveyards in Europe and the final resting place of many famous folks. — SEBASTIAN BURZIWAL/Wien Tourismus/dpa
Rock singer Falco and composer Ludwig van Beethoven are buried here, near running paths and a dedicated bus route: Vienna Central Cemetery in Austria is no ordinary graveyard – and that’s not just because an estimated three million people have found their final resting place at this site.
Vienna’s biggest cemetery turned 150 recently and the city’s Tourist Board explains why you should add the famous cemetery to your itinerary when visiting the Austrian capital.
A cemetery bus line
Eighty kilometres of roads and paths criss-cross Vienna Central Cemetery, one of the largest graveyards in Europe, covering an area of 2.5sq km.
Visitors can exercise on two running routes, known as silent runs. The wildlife garden, a 4ha open parkland with meadows, reed beds and a pond, is also worth checking out.
For those who have difficulty walking, an electric bus serves 19 stops across the cemetery grounds. The timetable is available online.
Macabre souvenirs
The cemetery is also home to the Funeral Museum, which is open from Wednesday to Friday (admission is €9/RM42.50 for adults). Guided tours are sometimes possible on other days – you’ll need to register in advance.
The interactive exhibition covering 300sq m gives visitors an overview of the history of cemeteries and the special Viennese perspective on death.
The museum gift shop is a great place to stock up on unique souvenirs, many of them typically Austrian with a pinch of black humour.
The current range includes a wooden USB stick in the shape of a coffin, LEGO undertaker figurines and a cuddly toy version of the museum’s mascot Quiqui, the Austrian word for the Grim Reaper.
Beethoven’s grave in Vienna. — Wikimedia Commons
Graves of honour
In addition to the approximately 1,000 honorary graves, including those of Falco and Beethoven, the St Charles Borromeo Cemetery Church is also worth a visit. Located in the centre of the cemetery, it is an example of Vienna Secession architecture, an art movement closely related to Art Nouveau.
If you need a break from the afterlife, head to the cafe and sausage stand at the main entrance of Gate 2 on Simmeringer Hauptstrasse. The museum and the cemetery information point are also located here, where you can arrange a guided tour of the cemetery grounds.
Private operator GabiTours also offers tours of Vienna Central Cemetery, including night tours in German. Those are very popular though, so make sure to book well in advance. – dpa
