Concerts and yoga to celebrate Vienna’s Central Cemetery anniversary
In the hit parade of famous graveyards, Vienna’s Central Cemetery must be in the top three alongside Paris’ Père Lachaise and Westminster Abbey.
Situated on the outskirts of Vienna, it is Europe’s second-largest burial ground, with approximately 330,000 graves spread across 2.5 square kilometers (620 acres). This sprawling cemetery attracts tens of thousands of visitors each month, both tourists and locals, who wander along its serene, tree-lined pathways and pay respects to notable figures interred within its grounds that include Johann Strauss, 80s pop star Falco and Ludwig van Beethoven.
A local singer-songwriter, Nino Mandl, recently played a series of three performances in the cemetery to celebrate its 150th anniversary. According to Renate Niklas, managing director of Vienna's cemeteries, some 30,000 people pass through the cemetery’s gates each month—not just for funerals or grave visits, but for leisurely walks, runs, and relaxation.
To honour the deceased, the anniversary festivities included yoga sessions and concerts designed to infuse life into the cemetery—a comforting concept for people that prefer to remember their loved ones in a vibrant environment rather than a sombre one.
Elaborate Viennese funerals
In Vienna, elaborate funerals featuring performances of Mozart's Requiem are cherished, reflecting the city's deep-rooted fascination with death. While predominantly Catholic, the cemetery accommodates diverse faiths, including Protestant, Jewish, Muslim, and Buddhist sections, even offering urban gardening plots for visitors to grow their own produce.
It has also been subject to some high-profile vandalism, when a burglar removed items including Johann Strauss’ teeth from his grave.
(Michael Leahy. Sources: France24, Viva Strauss. Photo: © WienTourismus/Gregor Hofbauer