The most beautiful and unusual cemeteries in the world

Cemeteries have something mystical about them. Especially when fog reigns, the trees shed their leaves, and the horizon is enveloped in a dreamy gray. Then All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day are not far off—celebrations that Catholics associate with a visit to the cemetery. The word "cemetery" originally derives from the Old High German "Frithof," the term for the enclosed area around a church. An enclosure refers to a structure that surrounds or shields a property from the outside.

This includes fences, walls, hedges, ditches, or embankments. This designation alone, along with historical traditions and some still prevalent conditions, reveals that cemeteries were traditionally laid out around churches. Only later did the meaning shift to a "yard of peace." What has remained the same, however, is that cemeteries allow relatives to commemorate the dead as undisturbed as possible.

10 Extraordinary Cemeteries Worldwide
Whether due to their design or history, special significance, or prominent deceased resting there—there are now a number of extraordinary cemeteries across the globe that have become true attractions. Here, we introduce some of the most beautiful and remarkable cemeteries in the world:

Vienna Central Cemetery: For the first candidate on our list, we don't have to travel far—it's located in the Austrian capital, Vienna. We are talking about the Central Cemetery, which opened in 1874. It now has over 330,000 graves and has been expanded seven times. At the time of its opening, it was even considered the largest cemetery in Europe. Its features include not only an extensive network of paths and Art Nouveau buildings but also numerous honorary graves. Many notable figures have been buried here, from Beethoven and Strauss to Falco and Udo Jürgens. Additionally, it even has its own song: "Es lebe der Zentralfriedhof" by Wolfgang Ambros.

Père Lachaise in Paris: Wildly romantic and green, the largest cemetery in Paris contains 69,000 graves and was also the world's first cemetery designed as a park cemetery. With around 3.5 million visitors per year, Père Lachaise is a true tourist magnet, as it is the final resting place of luminaries such as Jim Morrison, Oscar Wilde, Maria Callas, Edith Piaf, and Frederic Chopin.

Highgate Cemetery in London: Eerily charming and historically valuable—this describes Highgate Cemetery in England. It is also considered one of the most beautiful cemeteries in the world. Dating back to the Victorian era, its diverse graves reflect that period. With 170,000 graves, it is one of the largest cemeteries in Europe. Additionally, vampire films have been shot here, and among the most famous individuals buried here is Karl Marx.

Ohlsdorf Cemetery in Hamburg: Founded in 1877, Ohlsdorf Cemetery in Hamburg is now the largest park cemetery in the world. Covering an area of 391 hectares, it features not only tall trees but also streams and ponds reflecting the sunlight. Among the historical buildings, monuments, and modern graves are those of the writer Wolfgang Borchert and the physicist Heinrich Hertz. In total, there are now 235,000 graves here.

Jewish Cemetery on the Mount of Olives: The oldest and, due to Jewish rituals and traditions, the most significant Jewish cemetery in the world is the one on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. It lies east of the Old City, with the first burials taking place over 3,000 years ago. Even today, Jews from all corners of the globe are buried here. It is estimated to now hold between 200,000 and 300,000 tombstones from various periods.

Old Jewish Cemetery in Prague: Another spectacular historical site, particularly for Jewish history, is the Old Jewish Cemetery in Prague. Dating back to the 15th century, it contains around 12,000 tombstones. Due to the very limited one-hectare space, people were buried on top of each other—sometimes in twelve layers. This creates a haunting atmosphere that characterizes this place.

Merry Cemetery in Romania: Colorfully painted wooden crosses and humorous, satirical epitaphs are what make the Merry Cemetery in Săpânța, Romania, so unique. There are now 800 colorful crosses, each with a small peaked roof, adorned not only with masterfully crafted images of the deceased but also with carved texts that depict the life of the buried person in an ironic manner.

San Cristoforo della Pace and San Michele in Italy: An entire island dedicated solely to being a cemetery—sounds bizarre, right? But it is real. This cemetery island is located in Italy, near the lagoon city of Venice. It dates back to the French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, who founded the cemetery in 1804. Originally, there were two islands, which were eventually connected due to lack of space and continue to be expanded to this day.

Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in California: Simple, white headstones with a direct view of the sea. These are the key features of the Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, California, which is also considered one of the most extraordinary cemeteries in the world. Here, 112,000 people who died in military conflicts are buried, many of whom received Medals of Honor. However, the cemetery is now full, and no new burials have been conducted since 2014.

Neptune Memorial Reef in Florida: Located 5.2 kilometers off the coast of Key Biscayne in Florida is the "Neptune Memorial Reef," planned as the largest artificial coral reef. The unique aspect is that it also serves as an underwater mausoleum. The ashes of deceased individuals are cast into sculptures of lions, intricately decorated columns, or similar forms and then submerged.

Keep Loved Ones and Pets Always Close
Honoring loved ones with a grave in a cemetery or storing their ashes in an urn are among the most common burial methods. Additionally, there is the option to have gemstones made from the ashes or hair of the deceased. And that's what we do at Mevisto.

Whether attached to a necklace or kept in a special place in a keepsake box, with these sparkling components, you can always carry your beloved pets and people with you, even after their passing.

Schmuckstück als Ausdruck der eigenen Liebe

Mit offenen oder geschlossenen Augen, lange und liebevoll oder kurz und intensiv – die Art, wie wir uns küssen, hängt mit unseren eigenen Vorlieben und jenen unseres Gegenübers zusammen. Und oft ist die Sehnsucht bis zum nächsten Kuss groß. Eine Möglichkeit, den Herzensmenschen immer bei sich zu tragen und damit auch die eigene Liebe ihm oder ihr gegenüber auszudrücken, sind unsere Mevisto-Schmuckstücke. Hierfür benötigen wir lediglich 10 Gramm Haar und aufgrund unserer engen Zusammenarbeit mit Goldschmieden können wir Ihnen in puncto Ausführung und Schliff jeden Sonderwunsch erfüllen – egal, ob Sie sich für einen Ring oder einen Edelstein samt Kette entscheiden.