The Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe's 10th Training Academy

ASCE president, Mrs Lidija Pliberšek, participated in the 10th Training Academy of the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe, which took place from May 30th to June 2nd, 2023, in France.

Looking to the Future: visibility, cooperation and sustainability

The 10th Training Academy of the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe, hosted by Prehistoric Rock Art Trails, took place from May 30th to June 2nd, 2023, in the picturesque Dordogne region of France, in Périgueux-Montignac and Les Eyzies de Tayac, on the theme "Looking to the Future: visibility, cooperation and sustainability in the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe”.

As the theme suggests, this year's Training Academy had a clear focus on shaping the future of Cultural Routes, emphasizing three key aspects: visibility, collaboration, and sustainability. Representatives from various cultural routes and countries attended the event to exchange experiences, learn from good management practices, and advance ideas for new topics of engagement and areas for improvement.

In light of the event, it was established that the European Cemeteries Route would actively contribute to the Sustainability Working Group, established at the Forum in Chania on October 5th, 2022. This decision highlights the commitment of the European Cemeteries Route to contribute to sustainable practices and promote responsible tourism within the cultural routes framework. Joining forces with six other cultural routes, we are committed to collectively tackle sustainability challenges, assess the environmental, social, and economic impact of our projects, develop practical tools and resources, and share best practices to pave the way for a brighter future.

We warmly invite all members of our association to join us in our pursuit of creating a more sustainable and impactful future.

Photos from the event

Planting a peace tree in Budapest

On 26 May 2023, a tree was planted at the Fiumei Road Cemetery in Budapest as part of the ASCE Peace Tree Project.

The Peace Tree Project

The ASCE Peace Tree Project aims to encourage ASCE members to plant a tree at their cemeteries as a symbolic reminder of the importance of peace, not only after death but also during life. In doing so, the central message of the project is spread: “Live in peace to rest in peace!”.

The planting of the first tree and thereby the official start of the project took place at Pobrežje Cemetery in Maribor, Slovenia, on 25 May 2023.

The second peace tree was planted a day after that, on 26 May 2023, in the Fiumei Road Cemetery in Budapest, Hungary.

You can find more details about the project HERE.

WDEC 2023 in Koprivnica

On 1 June 2023, an educational walk was held at the City cemetery "Pri Svetom Duhu" in Koprivnica, Croatia, as part of this year's WDEC.

Educational walk

During the Week of Discovering European Cemeteries 2023, the Municipal Utility Company Komunalac LLC Koprivnica, in cooperation with the Historical Society of Koprivnica, organized an educational walk through the City cemetery "Pri Svetom Duhu" in Koprivnica. The goal was to raise awareness of the importance of cemeteries, their architectural solutions, artistic monuments, and historical facts related to the emergence and development of graves and customs in the cemetery.

The educational walk was held on June 1st, 2023, at 4:00 p.m., by Komunalac and the historian Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sc. Hrvoje Petrić. During the walk, several grave sites were shown that are specific in terms of cultural or historical significance.

Dr. Petrić gave a short lecture on the centuries-old development of the City and the creation of Koprivnica cemeteries in the Chapel of the Holy Spirit, and then the educational walk through the cemetery began. Family tombs, chapels and mausoleums are the last resting place of famous people from Koprivnica and are the last witnesses of their existence.

This manifestation was a unique opportunity for the citizens of the city of Koprivnica to get acquainted with the rich history, high artistic, cultural and anthropological works hidden in the City cemetery "Pri Svetom Duhu", and to learn or remember the generations that built this city through this segment of life.

Cemetery brochure

As part of the WDEC 2023, Komunalac created and published a short brochure on the history of the city cemetery, its famous monuments and people buried there. The brochure also provides citizens with useful information about the cemetery's opening hours, contacts and additional information.

The brochure was published on the company's website as well as on social networks.

You can see and download the brochure HERE.

Highlights from the WDEC 2023 in Krakow

Take a look at some photos from the guided walk that took place on 31 May 2023 at the New Cemetery of Podgorze.

In footsteps of famous people

Nearly fifty people took part in the guided walk "In footsteps of famous people" at the New Cemetery of Podgorze in Krakow during this year's Week of Discovering European Cemeteries. We have visted twelve graves and listen to amazing stories of people buried there.

Guides were members and friends of Association PODGORZE.PL, organisers of the walk.

More about the event at https://podgorze.pl/odkrywalismy-kolejne-tajemnice-nowego-cmentarza-podgorskiego/

Event photos

WDEC 2023 at the Pobrežje Cemetery

At the Pobrežje Cemetery in Maribor, Slovenia, the beginning of this year's Week of Discovering European Cemeteries was marked by a special event.

Peace tree project

On Thursday, 25 May 2023, at 11am, the president of ASCE, Mrs Lidija Pliberšek, and the director of Budapest cemeteries, Mr Móczár Gábor Attila, planted a tree and placed a memorial board next to the peace monument at Pobrežje Cemetery.

The event represented not only the opening of the WDEC, but also the start of a new international project "Peace tree". As part of this project, ASCE members will plant trees in their cemeteries and set up memorials to emphasize the significance of peace in life, under the slogan "Live in peace to rest in peace!". The first tree of this project was thus planted in Maribor.

More details about the project are available HERE.

Cultural day for students

Also on 25 May 2023, a cultural day for students of the elementary school Tone Čufar from Maribor was held at Pobrežje Cemetery. As part of the event, students learned about the cultural heritage of European cemeteries, history, and geography at the cemetery and in the city with the help of information technologies. Similar events are regularly held at the Pobrežje Cemetery as part of the project Schools on Cemeteries.

Exhibition of mourning floristry

From 25 to 27 May 2023, the traditional exhibition of contemporary mourning floristry was on display in front of the flower shop at the entrance to the Pobrežje Cemetery, which the florists prepare each year as part of the Week of Discovering European Cemeteries. This year's theme of the exhibition was "Green days of floristry" with the emphasis on the importance of sustainability in the production of mourning floristry.

Tour of the cemetery with ARtour

An activity that is always available to visitors is an independent tour of the Pobrežje Cemetery with the help of the mobile guide ARtour. ARtour is a free mobile application which provides visitors with an interactive and educational experience and takes them along the different paths of the Pobrežje Cemetery, where they learn about historical monuments, important personalities, sports and medical legends, and more.

WDEC 2023 at the First Cemetery of Athens

Take a guided tour or observe the maintenance process of two bronze statues at the First Cemetery of Athens during the WDEC 2023.

28 May 2023: Spend time, walk, observe, feel, and share knowledge

Following the rhythm of the famous Athens City Festival in May, the City of Athens would like to invite you to a guided tour of the First Cemetery of Athens on 28 May 2023, at 17.30, on which we will explore the history and monuments of the most important Athenian open-air museum.

Located in the heart of Athens, just a 15-minute stroll from the Acropolis, the First Cemetery is open to anyone who wants to walk in a beautiful place full of cypresses and towering pines, majestic romantic and neoclassical sculptures. During a tour we can share knowledge, memories, and stories, and therefore, connect.

You can find more details at https://cityfestival.thisisathens.org/en/outdoor-28-en/.

1 – 4 June 2023: Preserving two female statues, representing great Greek figures of Arts and Letters

Starting from last year, the City of Athens established an annual collaboration with the University of West Attica, performing surface cleaning and maintenance on bronze sculptures during the WDEC. 

Thinking about the theme of WDEC 2023 (mental and physical health and well-being in the cemeteries), we prepared a conservation action for two bronze female sculptures in the central square of the cemetery: that of the actress Marika Kotopouli Tomb and the bust of the scholar Kalliroi Parren.

By talking about their biography and how these personalities are represented in the cemetery, we connect to the arts and letters, theater and witting that keep our memory, minds, and bodies active and contribute to our well-being. 

 The action will take place from 1 to 4 of June. Visitors as well as students will have the opportunity to observe, learn and connect.

Cemetery video

Discover the First Cemetery of Athens also through this promotional video made by the City of Athens / Department of Cultural Heritage.

Contact information:

City of Athens / Department of Cultural Heritage
T: +302103721596, 2103721555
E-mail: t.pol.klironomias@athens.gr

WDEC 2023 at the Monumental Cemetery of Turin

Don't miss out on the wide variety of events that will take place in Turin, Italy, during this year's WDEC.

Events program

➤ 22 May - 10 June 2023: “Rainbows” TTL valorisation activity of Utilitalia SEFIT

➤ 30 - 31 May 2023, at 9.00: The "Terza Missione" Project "Whisper: "Around Cemeteries: a space of dialogue across generations and cultures" by the UNITED - Department of Humanistic Studies.

➤ 3 June 2023, at 10.00: Guided tour "Names, steps, history and art at the Monumental Cemetery of Turin" with Luisa Boscolo.

➤ 3 June 2023, at 16.30: Guided tour "Art and History at the Turin cemetery".

➤ 4 June 2023, at 10.00: Guided tour "Symbols, curiosities and oddities at the Monumental Cemetery of Turin".

➤ 4 June 2023, at 16.30: Guided tour "Art and History at the Turin cemetery".

➤ 6 June 2023, at 14.30: Guided tour to the Jewish fields.

➤ 9 - 12 June 2023, at 16.30: Special event "Archivissima Extra 2023 Carnet de voyage" #change.

➤ 10 June 2023, at 14.30: Open house Turin: the Monumental Cemetery.

➤ 10 June 2023, at 14.30: Open house Turin: the Monumental Cemetery.

Additional information about each event can be found at this LINK.

WDEC 2023 at the Sant Antoni Abat Cemetery

During this year's Week of Discovering European Cemeteries, dramatized tours will take place at the monumental cemetery of Alcoy.

Events program

➤ Thursday, 1 June 2023

17.30: Dramatized tour of the Cemetery by Guiarte con Arte
Registration: www.guiarteconarte.es / Tel. 650 59 42 32
Price: 10 €/ Person

➤ Friday, 2 June 2023

17.30: Dramatized tour of the Cemetery by Guiarte con Arte
Registration: www.guiarteconarte.es / Tel. 650 59 42 32
Price: 10 €/ Person

➤ Saturday, 3 June 2023

11.00: Dramatized tour "A la sombra de los cipreses", by Guiarte con Arte.
Registration: www.guiarteconarte.es / Tel. 650 59 42 32
Price: 12 €/ Person

➤ Sunday, 4 June 2023

11.00: Dramatized tour "A la sombra de los cipreses", by Guiarte con Arte.
Registration: www.guiarteconarte.es / Tel. 650 59 42 32
Price: 12 €/ Person

Official flayer

You can download the official flyer with the program of events at the Sant Antoni Abat Cemetery at the following links.

English flyer
Spanish flyer

The Cemetery Research Group website

We present to you the newly relaunched website created by the Cemetery Research Group (CRG).

ASCE members actively engage and contribute to a diverse range of projects, research and discussions related to cemeteries. That's why you will find a special section on ASCE website dedicated to research and science on cemeteries.

Even so, we believe that sharing knowledge is important, thus we now present to you the newly relaunched website created by the Cemetery Research Group (CRG), operating independently of the esteemed University of York. The Cemetery Research Group is committed to expanding our understanding of current and historical funeral culture, not only in the UK but also across the globe. By adopting an interdisciplinary approach, they delve into how emotional, religious and social concerns have been framed by economic and political imperatives.

This new website serves as a platform where individuals can explore a wealth of information, and contribute to the collective understanding of cemeteries. Whether you are an academic, a professional in the field, or simply passionate about the subject, we welcome you to visit the website and actively engage in this enriching community.

You can access the website on this link www.cemeteryresearch.org.

WDEC 2023 at the Inner Neustadt Cemetery

We invite you to a presentation of three short films that will take place at the Inner Neustadt Cemetery in Dresden, Germany.

On Friday, 26 May 2023, at 7pm, a presentation of three short films will take place at the Inner Neustadt Cemetery, carried out by Valérie Madoka Naito.

The films that will be presented are:

1. "Death Never Dies" from Valérie Madoka Naito. It is a film essay from 2011 about a Cemetery at Dillingen Saar and starts with the story of a man who has just returned in 1956 from Russian captivity and finds his name on this graveyard.

2. "Agnosis" from Anita Müller. The film was awarded the German Short film prize in 2012 in Munich. The experimental film is about a student in Odessa who descends into the familiar catacombs of a former mine to meditate on Orthodox Christmas Day 2012. Since then, he has disappeared without a trace.

3. "Dead At The Moment" from Thomas Wendrich. The film won 1st prize at Interfilm Festival Berlin in 2004. It tells the story of strong-minded hillbillies in a cross-generational comedy. The characters reveal to us in a farmer's kitchen with a mischievous wink that the family has recently had to cope with small and larger catastrophes, disappointments, and setbacks in life. The main character, the slightly age-addled farmer Franz, is still so strong in his senses that he can enjoy the "autumn sun" of his life.

You can find more information about the event at www.naito.eu.

WDEC 2023 at Certosa, Bologna Monumental Cemetery

We present you the program of events that will take place in Bologna, Italy, during the WDEC 2023.

The Certosa of Bologna summer calendar, the programme of cultural events curated by the Civic Museum of the Risorgimento with the contribution of Bologna Servizi Cimiteriali, returns from May 27th to November 2nd to enhance and promote the knowledge of the historical, artistic and architectural heritage enclosed in the city monumental cemetery.

Highlighting its involvement in an international network for the enhancement of historic cemeteries, the Bolognese event starts on the occasion of the annual Week of Discovering European Cemeteries, organized by the ASCE – Association of Significant Cemeteries in Europe to raise the awareness of European citizens on the importance of cemeteries, and present them from a different perspective to all their visitors.

Here is the programme of the events during WDEC 2023:

Saturday, May 27th, 10 AM | Laboratory
Certosa, Graves from the XX century (Tombe ‘900): memory and conservation

The volunteers from the Amici della Certosa Association, along with the students from the Arcangeli Art School of Bologna, present an account of their participation in the “Graves from the XX century (Tombe ‘900)” project, which was completed on 8 grave monuments.The Certosa, which hosts the majority of Bolognese families from the past, is an architectural work of a great artistic and historic value. The graves located here, which are actual funerary artworks, gain the title of MOMENTUM, which in Latin means MEMORY, a place of memory and testimony for future generations.

The project by the Amici della Certosa Association of Bologna wants to start from focusing on unique, significant graves from the XX century and then create a bridge between past, present and future, to preserve over time the MEMORY that was delivered to us, through the direct and collective participation of citizens (members and students).

Curated by Francisco Pérez and Lucia Vanghi from the Amici della Certosa Association, in partnership with the Arcangeli Art School (4D class) and the Civic Museum of the Risorgimento of Bologna.
Meeting at 9.45 AM at the historic-artistic Info Point (main entrance: churchyard), Via della Certosa 18.
Compulsory reservation to be made via e-mail, at the following address: amicidellacertosa@gmail.com.
Entrance: free

Sunday, May 28th, 10 AM | Guided tour
Bruno Boari – a low-profile artist

A journey with Roberto Martorelli and Angela Madesani, author of the monographic volume “Bruno Boari. Un artista sottovoce” (Nomos Edizioni, 2022), dedicated to the sculptor Bruno Boari (1896-1964).

We will retrace his intense activity, which lasted over 40 years and saw him engaging with different techniques: from sculpture to medal design, painting and the monuments of the Certosa of Bologna Monumental Cemetery, which is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A journey which, in our country’s history, dates back for its vast majority to the first half of the XX century, which was marked by two world wars and the presence of a dictatorship. A man of good character, a hard worker, politically conservative, and an artist of true talent.

Curated by the Amici della Certosa Association with the Civic Museum of the Risorgimento.
Meeting at the main entrance (churchyard), Via della Certosa 18.
Compulsory reservation to be made via e-mail at the following address: prenotazionicertosa@gmail.com (you must receive an e-mail to confirm the reservation).
Entrance: 8.00 € (it is preferable to pay cash).

Wednesday, May 31st, 7.30 PM | Guided tour
Do you know who died? A sunset visit to the Certosa 

Every death is a shocking event, but the death of public figures has an echo which is transmitted over time. During this guided tour with Michela Cavina, we will search for our city’s prominent personalities, who were regarded as actual local treasures and whose death was a real shock for several fellow citizens! We will find the famous poet, but also the composer of canzonettas, the hero of the Risorgimento and the woman of the show, mourned by all music lovers. There will also be remarkable women and heroes, as well as a well-known… dustman.

Curated by Mirarte.
Meeting at the entrance of the Church of San Girolamo della Certosa, Via della Certosa 18.
Compulsory reservation to be made at the following link: https://mirartecoop.it/eventi/.
Entrance: full 13.00 € / reduced 8.00 € (children from 6 to 12 years, persons with disabilities) (for every paid entrance, 2 EUR will be donated for improvement works to be carried out at the Certosa).

Wednesday, May 31st, 8.30 PM | Guided tour
The secret Certosa

A guided tour with Roberto Martorelli, to walk in the silence of the cemetery, which is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Rooms hidden by the dark of night, poorly explored cloisters, wonderful artworks which are hardly visible by a distracted passer-by. The rooms of the cemetery and its monuments will tell stories of forbidden love, suspected deaths, irreprehensible lives. The first evening meeting of the summer 2023 at the Certosa.

Curated by the Amici della Certosa Association with the Civic Museum of the Risorgimento.
Meeting at the main entrance (churchyard), Via della Certosa 18.
Compulsory reservation to be made via e-mail at the following address: prenotazionicertosa@gmail.com (you must receive an e-mail to confirm the reservation).
Entrance: 10.00 € (it is preferable to pay cash)

Friday, June 2nd, 3.30 PM | Guided tour
Forms from the past – the discovery of the present

A walk with Roberto Martorelli to discover the roots of our Bolognese, Italian and European community. Internationally-renowned monuments, characters who made history, visits of famous foreigners to the cemetery. A place of peace and happiness where, in the past, citizen and tourists found food for thought and meditation.

The cemetery is part of the ASCE - Association of European Significant Cemeteries, the largest and most influential no-profit organization which is in charge of preserving and promoting the artistic and historic value of the places of the collective memory.

Curated by the Civic Museum of the Risorgimento.
Meeting at the main entrance (churchyard), Via della Certosa 18.
Entrance: free

Saturday, June 3rd, 03.30 PM | Laboratory
Green walks | Small explorations at the Certosa

An exploratory journey targeted at children from 5 to 11 years old, to discover together the Certosa, which is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. During the walk, a few small observation exercises, focused on nature, art and poetry, will be proposed. With the help of a special map, we will cross this space and we will try to grasp the small magics of this place; at the end of the activity, the children will work on a personalized postcard, which portrays a glimpse of the city.

Curated by the Civic Museum of the Risorgimento in the context of “Museums and culture of accessibility”, a project by the Bologna Civic Museums Sector.
Meeting at 9.45 AM at the historic-artistic Info Point (main entrance: churchyard), Via della Certosa 18.
Entrance: free

Sunday, June 4th, 4 PM | Laboratory
The officinal Certosa – secrets of nature in the shade of cypress trees

On the occasion of the 500th anniversary of the birth of Ulisse Aldrovandi, also the Amici della Certosa Association commemorates the father of natural science. A walk with Manuela Capece, among medical traditions, cosmetic remedies, historical anecdotes, officinal curiosities and more.

Curated by the Amici della Certosa Association, in partnership with the Civic Museum of the Risorgimento.
Meeting at the main entrance (churchyard), Via della Certosa 18.
Compulsory reservation to be made via e-mail at the following address: prenotazionicertosa@gmail.com.
Entrance: donation (free for the members of the Amici della Certosa Association)

Additional information: www.museibologna.it/risorgimento

AGM 2023: Sign up

It's time to sign up for the Annual General Meeting and Conference 2023, taking place in Mantua, Italy, from 21 to 23 September.

About the AGM and Conference 2023

This year's AGM will take place on Thursday, 21 September 2023, in the TEA headquarters (Via Giuseppe Taliercio 3, 46100 Mantua, Italy) and it is intended for ASCE members only.

The Conference will take place on Friday, 22 September 2023, in the MaMu Mantova Multicentre (Largo di Porta Pradella 1b, 46100 Mantua, Italy) on the theme "Cemeteries of the future".

You can find the draft event program HERE.

The selection and booking of accommodation is in one's own domain. Some hotel suggestions can be found HERE.

Sign up form

It is important for the organizers to know the exact number of people attending various parts of the event. Therefore, please fill out the sign up form below and specify all the activities that you want to participate in.

Applications are possible until 1 August 2023, but since the number of places at the gala dinner is limited, we encourage you to register as soon as possible and thus secure your seat at the dinner.

You can sign up for participation here.

WDEC 2023 at the Feriköy Protestant Cemetery

The Feriköy Protestant Cemetery Initiative has organised two interesting events that will focus on learning and promoting knowledge about the cemetery.

3 June 2023: Online lecture

The Feriköy Protestant Cemetery Initiative presents "The Feriköy Protestant Cemetery and Heritage of Monument Row". A joint online lecture by Daniel-Joseph MacArthur-Seal and Brian Johnson, that will take place on Saturday, 3 June 2023, at 17.00 London time (19.00 İstanbul time).

Located in the center of European Istanbul, the Feriköy Protestant Cemetery has served as the city’s main burial place for Protestants and others since its opening in 1859. It has tremendous historical value, with heritage from much earlier than the nineteenth century. Some of its monuments date as far back as the 1600s, having been moved to Feriköy from a former cemetery in Istanbul’s famed Grand Champs des Morts, which had served the Protestant community for almost three hundred years before 1859.

This lecture, in celebration of the Association of Significant Cemeteries of Europe’s 2023 Week of Discovering European Cemeteries, will summarize the origins and history of the Feriköy Protestant Cemetery and discuss in detail some of the oldest memorials in “Monument Row,” the cemetery’s most iconic spot containing funerary monuments predating the cemetery itself. It will also describe the efforts under way to document this rich legacy and preserve the cemetery both as a heritage site and active burial ground.

You can find a short presentation of the lecturers HERE.

ZOOM LINK: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88935689486?pwd=cGRkU00wMWpYdHpQMitkNkdrUDl3QT09

4 June 2023: Open day

On 4 June, a special "Open Day" will take place at the Feriköy Protestant Cemetery, which will include tours, presentations, and refreshment for a large but select group, including our diplomats, academicians and cultural affairs people, and individuals from the expat community who have expressed an interest in becoming involved with a potential cemetery "friends" organization. We intend to tie the event with the theme of the WDEC 2023.

WDEC 2023 at the Ford Park Cemetery

Ford Park Cemetery in Plymouth, UK, is supporting a special awareness week, promoting the life-enhancing benefits that cemeteries offer to the community.

As a proud member of the Association of Significant Cemeteries in Europe (ASCE), Ford Park Cemetery is echoing the key message of the Week of Discovering European Cemeteries 2023, starting on 26th May.

Naturally many only think of cemeteries as being a place for those whose lives have ceased but nothing could be further from the reality.

Trustee Wendy Coulton said: “Our cemetery is very much a community hub for a wide range of activities and opportunities for volunteering. We connect with different groups and individuals who are interested in what our cemetery has to offer in addition to the funerals which take place.

Walking and making time to take a breath and notice what is around us in nature is recognised as a tonic for our mental and physical health and wellbeing. We organise guided themed walks around the cemetery throughout the year but the cemetery is open to anyone who appreciates having a beautiful green space in the heart of a city. Walking a lap or more of our 34 acre site can work wonders for your mood.

For those who love gardening - which again is acknowledged for its therapeutic benefits - or who just want to get more active we have simple light tasks around the cemetery which help us to keep it maintained.

And of course connecting with people keeps loneliness from social isolation at bay. Friendships are formed and there are untold rewards from giving your time and skills to a good cause such as our cemetery which is run by a charitable trust.

So next time you pass our cemetery, come in and see for yourself why it serves the living as much as those who have passed.”

The ladies in the photo come together every Wednesday morning to knit, crochet and make crafts which are then sold at our events to raise funds for our work here at Ford Park Cemetery. It’s also a much valued opportunity to catch up with like-minded people over a cuppa.

*Main photo source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Park_Cemetery

WDEC 2023 at the Fiumei Road Cemetery

Don't miss out on the wide variety of events that will take place in Budapest, Hungary, during this year's Week of Discovering European Cemeteries.

27 May 2023 (Saturday)

➤ 10 am: Minibus tour

On the occasion of the Day of the Memorial Places, held in the Fiumei Road Cemetery, there will be free guided minibus tours offered with a duration of 45 minutes. Using the minibus allows us to present the entire area of the cemetery. The tour’s specialty is that visitors can also be presented to famous people, graves, and exciting places that cannot be reached on an average thematic walk due to long distances.

➤ 10 am: Sporty walk

Hungarians, go for it! Athletes and sports leaders in the Fiumei Road Cemetery. During our walk we will visit the graves of well-known and lesser-known figures of Hungarian sports history. We will get to know their humorous, dramatic or even tragic stories, and remember their successes that brought glory to them and their country.

➤ 11 am: Minibus tour

On the occasion of the Day of the Memorial Places, held in the Fiumei Road Cemetery, there will be free guided minibus tours offered with a duration of 45 minutes. Using the minibus allows us to present the entire area of the cemetery. The tour’s specialty is that visitors can also be presented to famous people, graves, and exciting places that cannot be reached on an average thematic walk due to long distances.

➤ 1 pm: Bicycle tour

On hidden roads. Bicycle tour in the Fiumei Road Cemetery. One of the most unique green areas of Budapest, the Fiumei Road Cemetery, hides countless special monuments, many of them located in remote, almost wooded areas of the cemetery. During our bike tour we visit these lesser-known parts of the cemetery, which preserve more interesting stories. On the roads, densely overgrown with trees, we will ride between artistic graves, and unravel the secrets of guardian angels, family mausoleums and slender female figures.

➤ 9 pm: Turek – Radnóti’s poetry theatre evening

The audience of Miklós Turek's poetry theatre performance will witness the last moments of the life of a Hungarian poet who tragically died at a young age. 

28 May 2023 (Sunday)

➤ 11 am: Concert for children (Kolompos)

Kolompos is an authentic Hungarian folk music group, playing mainly for children. They introduce folk music, dance and customs, poetry and tales to little ones in an interactive and entertaining way. On Children's Day, a one-hour concert will take place at the Fiumei Road Cemetery on a meadow among flowers.

➤ 1 pm: Family walk

The mysterious world of the Fiumei Road Cemetery is not only interesting for adults, its stories can also be explored through children's eyes. We will decipher the decorations of old graves and the meanings of special sculptures, while also getting to know the varied flora. The walk is recommended for children aged 7-12.

➤ All afternoon Discovery game

Search - seek - collect - explore the tomb garden. Explore the graveyard with the help of a puzzle sheet. The game can be played individually or in a team.

1 June 2023 (Thursday)

➤ 10 am: Maternity/Baby-mommy and/or daddy walk

We will invite parents with small babies to our unusual themed walk, in a more informal way. By informal, we mean that the rhythm of the walk and the stops are adapted to the needs of the participants, that is, it is possible to stop at any time during the walk, to feed a baby at the resting places, and the crying of a child is not considered a disturbing factor among those applying for the walk. We hope that not only the beautiful environment, but also the cultural and historical experiences during the walk will be a source of refreshment for new moms and dads.

3 June 2023 (Saturday)

➤ 10 am: Minibus tour

On the occasion of the Day of the Memorial Places, held in the Fiumei Road Cemetery, there will be free guided minibus tours offered with a duration of 45 minutes. Using the minibus allows us to present the entire area of the cemetery. The tour’s specialty is that visitors can also be presented to famous people, graves, and exciting places that cannot be reached on an average thematic walk due to long distances.

➤ 11 am: Minibus tour

On the occasion of the Day of the Memorial Places, held in the Fiumei Road Cemetery, there will be free guided minibus tours offered with a duration of 45 minutes. Using the minibus allows us to present the entire area of the cemetery. The tour’s specialty is that visitors can also be presented to famous people, graves, and exciting places that cannot be reached on an average thematic walk due to long distances.

4 June 2023 (Sunday)

➤ 11 am: Pest-Kolozsvár walk

"Beautiful city of Cluj Napoca". During our walk, we will reminisce about the capital of Transylvania, visiting the graves of people whose lives were marked by Cluj-Napoca: either because they were born as a native of this treasured city, or because their time in the city was a turning point in their career or at a certain stage of their lives. We can find out what Ferenc Erkel and Zsigmond Móricz owed to the famous city, as well as whose works have markedly defined Cluj-Napoca's built and intellectual heritage, as with János Fadrusz’s emblematic statue of Matthias, or the first permanent Hungarian-language theatre, with artists such as Mari Jászai and Márton Lendvay.

➤ 1 pm: "Beyond the borders" walk

They were born in the annexed areas and their graves are located in the Fiumei Road Cemetery. During our walk, we will talk about the writers, poets, artists, statesmen and soldiers born outside the borders of today’s Hungary, and whose life's work is an integral part of Hungarian culture and history.

 

An international conference in Turin

Join the international conference "Around Cemeteries: a space of dialogue across generations and cultures" on 30 and 31 May 2023. Online participation is possible.

About the event

On 30 and 31 May 2023, an international conference will take place in Turin, Italy, on the theme "Around Cemeteries: a space of dialogue across generations and cultures".

National and international speakers (Italian, English, and French) will underline through their presentations how the tangible and intangible heritage of cemeteries, in terms of narratives, representations and metaphors, can be a stimulus to encourage contacts within generations and cultures.

The event will be streamed live and you can attend it via the link https://unito.webex.com/unito/j.php?MTID=mbf61608a50fb103e27d5cd9108c2f321.

Participation is free.

EVENT PROGRAM (in English)
EVENT PROGRAM (in Italian)

Webinar "Jewish cemeteries as visitor destinations across Europe"

Join this interesting free webinar on 24 May 2023.

About the webinar

The Foundation for Jewish Heritage invites you to attend a free webinar that explores "How and to what extent Jewish cemeteries can and are currently being used as visitor destinations across Europe."

The day will begin with an introduction to the project by the Foundation for Jewish Heritage Chair Dame Helen Hyde, and followed by a keynote lecture by Dr Paul Darby.

The rest of the day will include a rich and varied programme of speakers from across Europe, who will present case studies of key findings from Dr Darby’s report.

You can find the detailed program in the attached photo.

How to participate?

The webinar will take place via Zoom on Wednesday, 24 May 2023, starting at 9.30am CET and concluding at 5pm CET.

Participation is free.

You can book your spot at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/jewish-cemeteries-as-visitor-destinations-tickets-607408022747.

*Photo: Jewish part of the Kozala Cemetery in Rijeka, Croatia.

ASCE president at a conference in Budapest

On 16 May 2023, ASCE president, Mrs Lidija Pliberšek, attended the Engaged Authorities Conference for Jewish cemeteries in Budapest, Hungary.

About the Conference

The ESJF’s Conference, taking place in the Central European University in Budapest, focused on the role of Public Authorities in the care and management of Jewish cemeteries.

In a keynote speech, ASCE president, Mrs Lidija Pliberšek, talked about the work and importance of the Association of Significant Cemeteries in Europe (ASCE) and the European Cemeteries Route project.

Other conference participants were: Mr Philip Carmel (ESJF Chief Executive Officer), Dr. Paul Darby (researcher working with the Foundation for Jewish Heritage), Mr Ivan Pohorilyak (Mayor of Perechyn in Ukraine), Mr Avraham Yishai (Head of the Legal Center for Combating Antisemitism, IJL Association), Mrs Olena Kolb (Public Sector Liaison Ambassador, ESJF), Mrs Maria Baranyi (Coordinator for Hungary, ESJF), Mr Steven Reece Ph.D (The Matzevah Foundation, Fulbright Scholar), Mrs Sophie Pownall (Assitant Project Manager, ESJF, moderator), Mrs Alexandra Fishel (ESJF Educational projects officer), Mr Andrzey Jankowskyi (former Project Coordinator at GWŻ Warszawa), Dr. Pascale Falek (Policy Officer at the EU Commission, Office of the Coordinator on combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life, Directorate-General for Justice and Consumers) and Mrs Kateryna Malakhova, Ph.D (ESJF Historical Researcher).

Photos from the Conference