2nd memorial evening at Eastern Cemetery in Innsbruck

Memorial evening for Charlie Chaplin
At the end of October 2023, the second event of the "Quo Vadis Fundamentum" took place at the Eastern Cemetery in Innsbruck, Austria.

Memorial evening for Charlie Chaplin

The "Quo Vadis Fundamentum" initiative started in 2022 with the aim to commemorate special individuals, who made significant contributions to humanity, with memorial evenings at the Eastern Cemetery in Innsbruck.

Last year, on the 80th anniversary of Edith Stein's death, a concert and reading were held to commemorate her life and work. The reading was performed by the actress Bernadette Abendstein.

This year, the focus was on Charlie Chaplin, who was also presented through texts and enchanting music. The reading was performed by the actor Hakon Hirzenberger. The event was truly special and over 30 people took part in it.

The presentations alternate each year, with a woman reading about a woman one year, and a man reading about a man the next. So, next year, Bernadette Abendstein will read about a woman, who will soon be chosen by her.

Photos of the event

International Conference in Athens: Call for paper

First cemetery of Athens
We invite you to participate in the International Conference on Cemetery Studies, taking place from 18 to 20 April 2024 in Athens.

About the conference

From 18 to 20 April 2024, the International Conference on Cemetery Studies will take place at Harokopio University in Athens, organized by Harokopio University in collaboration with the University of York, both members of ASCE.

The event intends to bring together a wide spread of academics, presenting their latest research findings concerning various aspects of cemeteries (end of 18th century onwards), including history, art and culture, anthropology, geography, social studies and cemetery tourism. Postgraduates and doctoral students are especially welcome.

The conference fee is 30 euros (15 euros for doctoral students), including light lunch, refreshments and a guided tour in a historical cemetery of Athens. 

Conference language: English.

Call for papers

Abstracts of no more than 300 words and a short, 100-word CV (both in word format and in English) should be sent to ioannaparaskevopoulou@yahoo.gr no later than 31 January 2024.

An edited selection of papers from the conference will be published in electronic form (with ISBN).

You can find the entire call for papers HERE.

King’s Award to Friends of Lister Lane Cemetery

Lister Lane Cemetery
We are proud to announce that our member, Friends of Lister Lane Cemetery, has been awarded the King’s Award for Voluntary Service.

It was announced on the occasion of His Majesty the King’s 75th birthday that The Friends of Lister Lane Cemetery have been awarded the King’s Award for Voluntary Service (KAVS) – the highest recognition granted to volunteer groups across the United Kingdom, equivalent to an MBE.

Friends of Lister Lane Cemetery are very proud to receive this accolade and hope it will help them promote their wonderful cemetery and its occupants.

The award will be later presented by the Lord Lieutenant of West Yorkshire.






*Photo source: https://twitter.com/ListerLaneCem.

International congress: "Heritage, a shared responsibility"

International congress: Heritage, a shared responsibility
From 9 to 11 November 2023, Cementiris de Barcelona participated in the international congress in Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

About the event

From 9 to 11 November 2023, an international congress on the topic “Heritage, a shared responsibility” took place in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. The event was organised by Hispania Nostra, part of Europa Nostra.

Under the slogan “Patrimonio somos todos” (“We are all heritage”), this congress sought to reflect on the protection and knowledge of cultural heritage. It focused on how cultural heritage can be used in a search for diversity and multiculturalism, a defence of democracy, a place of collective memory and personal reflection, and a defence of fundamental rights. Debates about these objectives were tied to the use of new technologies, and the importance of including the general public in the maintenance of cultural heritage.

Representing European Cemeteries Route

The representative of Cementiris de Barcelona, Adrià Terol, participated in a debate with the President of ICOMS Argentina, the General Secretary of AEPJ and the General Director of Cultura for the OEI. The debate focused on how European culture routes can be a source of social and economic development, as well as their effects on civil society.

Our spokesperson’s role was to represent the European Cemeteries Route, part of the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe. With Barcelona Cemeteries as an example of how cemeteries are a part of a city’s heritage, Terol explained what activities are put on offer to the public or to research and education institutions, and how these activities help to create a better dialogue between cemeteries and the heritage they hold and the general public. There was also a focus on links to Ibero-american heritage routes, and how Ibero-american and European heritage tie into one another.

The congress was a good way to present our work, at both a local and international level, to a wider public, and to gain new contacts. The congress was covered by various media outlets.

King’s Award to Friends of Flaybrick

Friends of Flaybrick
We are proud to announce that our member, Friends of Flaybrick, has been awarded the King’s Award for Voluntary Service.

About the award

The King’s Award for Voluntary Service (KAVS) is the highest award given to volunteer groups across the United Kingdom. The award recognizes outstanding work done by volunteer groups in their communities and it is the equivalent to an MBE.

Further information about the award can be found at https://kavs.dcms.gov.uk.

Friends of Flaybrick

The Friends of Flaybrick charity was established in 1993 by John Moffat, who today works as secretary of the group, with the intent of bringing Flaybrick back into the community. The members and volunteers have worked hard since then to achieve that aim, despite occasional setbacks, which only make them more determined to succeed.

Their Chair, Rob Dolphin, said "We are such a wonderful hard working group with a range of skills and abilities which suit the tasks we undertake and it is my great joy and honour to accept the award on behalf of our charity. This gives true recognition to all members and volunteers, both past and present."

Upon receiving the award, they would like to express their thanks to Lord Field of Birkenhead who kindly sponsored the award bid, and also Councillor George Davies, former Mayor of Wirral and Elizabeth Davey, the prominent local historian, for their wonderful letters of endorsement. The group would also like to take the opportunity to express their thanks to the people of Wirral and beyond who support them in all weathers and attend their guided walks, Services of Remembrance and open days in great numbers.





*Photo source: https://www.facebook.com/FlaybrickFriends/.

Planting a peace tree at Lister Lane Cemetery

Peace tree at Lister Lane Cemetery
On 12 November 2023, a peace tree was planted at Lister Lane Cemetery in Halifax, United Kingdom.

About 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.

You can find more details about the project HERE.

Peace Tree at Lister Lane Cemetery

On 12 November 2023, the United Kingdom Remembrance Sunday, a peace tree was planted at Lister Lane Cemetery in Halifax.

The tree is a Hawthorn which is a long living native tree whith many flowers and berries. This is particularly important since the flowers are needed for the bees and berries for the birds living in the cemetery.

Halloween at the Newtown Road Cemetery

Halloween at Newtown Road Cemetery 2023
This Halloween, the historic Newton Road Cemetery in Rushden, England, became the stage of an original event that blended slow tourism with an educational note.

Event organisation

In October 2023, Friends of Newtown Road Cemetery linked up with City Arts, a community art centre, based in an old Wesleyan Missionary Chapel, to organise a unique Halloween event like no other.

With a total of eight executed performances, the event proved to be a great success, leaving participants with lasting memories and a newfound appreciation for the stories embedded in Newton Road Cemetery.

"Memergising" a ghost

During the event, the participants, primarily families, engaged in the creative process of decorating skulls before encountering the Great Memergiser, an actor and poet. He challenged them to use their experiences to "memergise" a ghost that evening.

Participants then walked along three alleys and met a Wise Woman in each. They were given rosemary (they had to touch green on green as they went along), a red candle and a black stone with a rune on it. Upon arriving at the cemetery, they were met by the sexton, who skillfully guided them in the dark to the ceremony site where, as if by magic, the Great Memergiser awaited them.

As they lit their candles and commenced a chant, the rhythm gradually transformed into the powerful phrase, "We remember them". The Chapel doors swung open, revealing a mystical haze and a ghost, who thanked them for their efforts and dashed off to find someone they knew in their life.

Inside the Chapel, participants enjoyed spiced apple juice while viewing a display of 19th-century photos (CDVs), challenging them to identify the ghost they had encountered. However, the missing names on the CDVs made this task impossible.

Print and label your photos

The educational message resonating from the event encouraged participants to return home and, over the winter, label their photos. This simple act ensures that future local historians will be able to identify individuals even a century later. It was also a poignant reminder to print cherished photos.

Križevci city cemetery (Križevci, Croatia)

Križevci city cemetery (Križevci, Croatia)
The Križevci city cemetery was officially founded in 1902, while the first burials in this place date back to 1898.

About the cemetery

The Križevci city cemetery consists of two parts. The area of 36.330 m2 relates to the “Old Cemetery” which was planned and designed by architect Stjepan Podhorsky in 1916. The area of 35.000 m2 relates to the “New Cemetery” which was planned and designed by Vesna Makovec in 2013. Architects and landscape designers are not famous people in world sense, but they are well known in the city of Križevci and Croatia.

The entrance to the cemetery is dominated by the Chapel of St. Roch and there are many graves of monuments that have been preserved in their original form. The landscape is carefully designed and regularly maintained. It includes  centuries-old conifers and other plants that cover approximately 20.000 m2 of the cemetery area.

In the Jewish part of Križevci city cemetery the construction of arcades began around 1910. Since the archives of the City of Križevci, in the period from 1860 to 1945, were destroyed after World War II, it is impossible to determine with certainty the author of the project, the contractor, or the time of construction of the arcades. Nevertheless, the construction project is attributed to the famous Croatian architect Stjepan Podhorski, who at the time was working on two other important projects in Križevci: the restoration of the church of St. Cross and construction of the Croatian National House building. There are a total of eight arcades in Jewish Arcades with one tomb in each of the arcades.

Important graves and monuments

There are many important people buried at the Križevci city cemetery. Some of them are:

  • Antun Nemčić (1813-1849) - Croatian writer who studied law and philosophy in Zagreb. Under the pseudonym A. N. Gostovinsky, he wrote songs, travel books, novels and comedies.
  • Marcel pl. Kipach (1894-1915) - inventor, known as the “miracle child”. His work covers the fields of electronics, magnetism, acoustics, sound transmission and transformers. When he was just sixteen-year-old, he patented the original shape of a ship's compass. He also patented a vehicle lighting dynamo and the current switch on the principle of current pressure for x-rays.
  • Đuro Smičiklas (1815-1881) - Bishop of Križevci. He studied theological study in Zagreb. As a priest, he served for ten years in several parishes throughout Croatia. In 1857 he received the episcopal consecration in Vienna and became the bishop of the Diocese of Križevci where he stood until his death.
  • Ilija pl. Hranilović (1850-1889) - Bishop of Križevci and a very valued priest among the bishops. His legacy is, among other things, a decorated bishop’s palace in Križevci. Unfortunately, he quickly became ill and died at the age of 38.
  • Milena pl. Šugh – Štefanac (1884-1957) - opera singer who studied at the Croatian Institute in Zagreb and in Vienna. For over 10 years she was a member of the opera house in Linz. She continued her singing career in Prague till 1927, when she returned to Križevci. She was especially appreciated as a singing teacher.

Address

Ulica Ivana Lepušića 1
48260 Križevci
Croatia

Contacts

Email: info@komunalno.hr
Phone: +385 48 720 915
Website: www.komunalno.hr

Basic information

Year of first burial: 1898
Current area: 7.13ha
Approximate number of graves: 4.600
Approximate number of burials: 10.000

Marine graveyard in Pula (Croatia)

Marine graveyard in Pula (Croatia)
The Marine graveyard was opened in 1862 by the Austro-Hungarian Ministry of Navy. Today is one of the largest military cemeteries in Europe.

About the cemetery

Marine graveyard in Pula is one of the largest military cemeteries in Europe. It was opened in 1862 under its full name K. u. k. Marinefriedhof (Empire and Royal Marine Graveyard), when the Austro-Hungarian Ministry of Navy acquired 4.000 m2 of land to use for the burial of military servicemen.

Until 1870, the deceased were buried in groups. This practice consequently got changed for hygienic reasons and the burials started in individual tombs. Over time the Marine graveyard expanded, and until today about 100.000 people have been buried on its 22.000 m2.

During World War I, many victims of war were buried at this cemetery. These were primarily the officers and soldiers of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy. Later on, soldiers serving in other armies were also buried there. During World War II, burial of war victims continued.

By the decision from October 27, 1960, the Cemetery has been declared a Memorial site. From then on, no new burials have been conducted.

Today, the Marine graveyard in Pula houses commemorative marks of Austro-Hungarian soldiers from WWI, Italian and German soldiers from WWII, and the memorial dedicated to National Liberation Struggle fighters and victims fallen in WWII. Considering its importance, the renovation of the cemetery started in the 1990s. After the renovation was completed, the Marine graveyard was listed as one of the monuments protected under the Hague Convention.

Cemetery visitors

Rich cultural and architectural heritage and monuments in Marine graveyard that are over 100 years old, attract many tourists that come to visit the city of Pula. Many tourist guides utilise walkthroughs in Marine graveyard to show important monuments, persons, and events to the visitors.

Furthermore, lots of visitors from today's Italy, Germany, Austria, and Hungary have their ancestors buried in the Marine Graveyard in Pula. When they visit the city of Pula, they usually visit Marine graveyard too.

The cemetery is like a park in the heart of the city of Pula, so it is also frequently visited by locals.

Events and activities at the cemetery

Each year, Marine graveyard hosts numerous events in the remembrance of fallen soldiers in WWI and WWII. Most important yearly events are on the day of the city on 5th May when Austrian Black Cross and other Austrian delegations lay flowers in the special ceremony. Also, there are ceremonies hosted by Hungarian state delegations and ambassadors, the Italian embassy and consulate, and the German Bundeswehr delegation.

Address

Jeretova bb
Pula-Pola 52100
Croatia

Contacts

Email: uprava@montegiro.hr
Phone: +385 99 5456 438
Website: https://www.mg.hr/

Basic information

Year of first burial: 1862
Year of last burial: 1960
Current area: 2ha
Approximate number of graves: 100.000

El Salvador church and cemetery (Villaluenga del Rosario, Spain)

El Salvador church and cemetery (Villaluenga del Rosario, Spain)
El Salvador Church and Cemetery is located in the upper part of Villaluenga del Rosario, the littlest village of the Province of Cádiz (Spain).

About the cemetery

El Salvador Cemetery is an ancient church of Villaluenga del Rosario that was burned by the Napoleonic army between 1809-1814. In Villaluenga there is even a proverb that says: “Villaluenga del Rosario no quiso capitular y llegaron los Franceses y quemaron el lugar.”

The people of Villaluenga were courageous and they refused to bow down to the Napoleonic army. They showed that there isn't an obstacle that can knock them down. So, they found another function for the church and converted it into a cemetery. They used every part of the church to build niches and now it can be seen in the irregular distribution of the walls. During their visit to the cemetery, people are still inside the ancient church, as its ancient tower, walls and the skeleton of the vault are still preserved.

The exact date in which El Salvador Church and Cemetery was built is still unknown. On the tower of the church, we can see some tiles engraved in 1722, the year of the restoration of this part of the church, so it would be built rather before.

In the cemetery, we can also find a mausoleum where the illustrious poet Pedro Pérez-Clotet was buried in 1966. Pérez-Clotet belongs to the Spanish 27th Generation which include poets such as Alberti, García Lorca, and Miguel Hernández, among others.

Address

Calle Torre 8
Villaluenga del Rosario 11611
Spain

Contacts

Email: ayuntamiento@villaluengadelrosario.es
Phone: (+34) 956460001
Website: www.villaluengadelrosario.es

Basic information

Year of first burial: 1830
Current area: 440 m2
Approximate number of graves: 1058

Anglican Cemetery of Bagni di Lucca (Bagni di Lucca, Italy)

Anglican Cemetery of Bagni di Lucca (Bagni di Lucca, Italy)
The cemetery was established in 1842 and represents the historical and cultural testimony of the English community in Bagni di Lucca.

About the cemetery

In 1840, Mr. Henry and Mrs. Elizabeth Stisted obtained permission by the Prince of Lucca, Carlo Lodovico di Borbone Parma, to build a Church and a Cemetery of Anglican rite for the British community resident in Bagni di Lucca.

This small cemetery opened in 1842. It was divided into 46 spaces of first class, 260 of second class and 84 of third class. For children were projected 25 spaces of second class and 12 of third. The original plan is still quite recognizable in its essential forms. Immediately after the gate of entrance a short flight of steps leads to the central path, that slightly uphill, reaches the Chapel for the funerals. About at two thirds of the way to the chapel another path crosses the middle one to form a Christian cross. The semicircular paths that started from the height of the stairs are no longer visible. They connected to the paths which went through the walls, and from which started little paths to access to individual graves.

There are 139 people buried in the cemetery whose names can all be obtained from documents now preserved in the Historical Archives of the Municipality, but some also from the tombstones. Many graves are no longer visible. Not all those who are buried here died in Bagni di Lucca but were buried here or for their expressed will or on the recommendation of relatives or friends. This shows that the English community of Bagni di Lucca, with its church and its cemetery of Anglican cult, was a sure reference for the English who lived in nearby towns such as Lucca, Pisa, Livorno, but also in Rome and abroad. Among them there are scientists, men of letters, musicians, doctors, priests, chaplains, botanists, entomologists, and professors. In addition to the English, Poles, Russians, Swedes, French, and Americans are also buried here. The latest burial dates back to 1953, the year of final closure of the cemetery.

The Anglican Cemetery of Bagni di Lucca was abandoned for many years, but since 2012, significant interventions have been made to restore dignity to this place rich in historical and artistic memories. Today, the cemetery is under the constraint of the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities pursuant to Legislative Decree No. 42/2004 -New Cultural Heritage Code. The Church, an austere building by architect Giuseppe Pardini from Lucca, now houses the Municipal Library and is a cultural centre.

Events and activities at the cemetery

Each year, at the end of the renovation programmed for that period, usually in the first week of September, the restored monuments are presented to the public as part of a special day that takes place in the cemetery. On the occasion and to accompany the ceremony itself, a small musical concert is held in the cemetery. Over the years, string quartets, ensembles of cellos, saxophones, accordion and brass quintets and choirs have taken turns.

Bagni di Lucca, today as in the past, is also a popular destination for national and international tourism. Italian and foreign visitors are attracted by the beauty of the landscape, but also, and perhaps above all, by the fame that its thermal springs have enjoyed since the 12th century. Illustrious personalities of European culture have visited this valley and left traces of their impressions in their poetic works and diaries. First and foremost, the great French thinker Michel de Montaigne, who spent 75 days here in the summer of 1581 in attempt to cure the kidney stones from which he was afflicted. He left a record of his stay in his travel diary. Today, foreign tourists follow in the footsteps of their compatriots.

Address

Via Letizia
55022 Bagni di Lucca LU
Italy

Basic information

Operating period: 1842-1953
Current area: 26ha
Approximate number of graves: 130

Preserving cultural heritage at Podgorze cemeteries

Old Cemetery of Podgorze
On 1st November 2023, a fundraiser was held at the New Podgorze Cemetery, while extensive renovation work has begun at the Old Podgorze Cemetery.

Fundraiser at New Podgorze Cemetery

Fundraiser at New Podgorze Cemetery 2023

On 1st November 2023, the PODGORZE.PL Association organised its 17th annual fundraiser at the New Podgorze Cemetery in Krakow to collect money for renovation of tombstones of historical value.

An amount of nearly 3.000 euros was collected this year and it will be spent on renovation works on one of the graves in the main avenue of the New Podgorze Cemetery. 

Thanks to funds collected in previous years, nine dilapidated graves from the early years of the 20th century have already been renovated. The graves selected for renovation have no legal owners, hence a public collection is the only way to ensure their preservation for the future generations.

Renovation of Old Podgorze Cemetery

Renovation of Old Podgorze Cemetery 2023

Major renovation work has commenced in the Old Podgorze Cemetery in Krakow, the oldest cemetery in the city. 

The plans include renovation of walls, gate and pavement of alleyways. New lighting will also be introduced. Remains of the old graves will be preserved in the form of a lapidarium. Project also includes replacing of over fifty poor quality gravestones placed in the cemetery in the 1970s, with new ones, created according to the old designs. Furthermore, several graves destroyed last summer by collapsing trees will be restored to their former glory. 

The renovation should be completed by 2026 at a total cost of nearly one million euro. It is funded by Civic Committee for the Restoration of Krakow Heritage and the Municipality of Krakow.

2° Cultural Routes Academic Workshop

Online worshop
We invite you to attend the 2° Cultural Routes Academic Workshop, which will take place online on 7th December 2023.

About the workshop

Following a successful first edition in 2021, the Secretariat of the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe programme is organising its second academic workshop with the purpose of bringing together scholars, researchers, and students to exchange and share their research outcomes in the field of Cultural Routes studies.

The workshop will be held entirely online on Thursday, 7th December 2023.

The event welcomes theoretical perspectives, state of the art research reports, case studies and policy evaluations relating to all aspects of cultural routes. Contributions are welcome from all disciplinary perspectives. Particularly welcome are published or submitted research contributions from Master and PhD students (dissertations, articles, thesis, etc.).

Participation at the workshop

European Cemeteries Route has been a certified Cultural Route of the Council of Europe since 2010. Therefore, we would like our representatives to attend the workshop with some interesting presentation topics.

We invite anyone who would like to participate in the workshop to send their presentation proposal in English to ioanna@significantcemeteries.org till 9th November 2023, so that we can review it before the official submission of the abstract to the organizers of the event.

You can find the entire call for papers HERE and the abstract template HERE.

AGM 2023 report

AGM 2023 in Mantua, Italy
On September 21st, the ASCE Annual General Meeting took place in the TEA headquarters in Mantua, Italy.

Over 130 participants from 16 countries attended the splendidly organised Annual General Meeting and Conference. This year's AGM was particularly important since the elections were held for the ASCE president and steering committee members.

The AGM was preceded by Mrs Lidija Pliberšek, president of ASCE, and all steering committee members were present or gave proxy to other members. During the AGM several things were outlined and discussed:

1.Introduction

Welcome speech by ASCE president, Mrs Lidija Pliberšek.

2.Presidency and Steering Committee activities 2022 / 2023

  • Steering Committee meetings and sessions
  • AGM 2022 in Belgrade, Serbia
  • Work practice in School
  • Best practices award 2022 for Schools on cemeteries project
  • Organizing bus tour around Greece
  • Signing the declaration of intent
  • ESJF European Jewish Cemeteries Initiative conference: Protecting Jewish Cemeteries
  • International seminar “Rethinking landscapes Perspective. Debate and Exchange”
  • 10th Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe Training Academy
  • Training Seminar for Candidate Routes
  • Municipal Cemetery of Kifissia admission to the European Cemeteries Route
  • Women Writers Route certificate award ceremony
  • 1st international scientific and professional conference on cemeteries in Varaždin

3. ASCE administration and European Cemeteries Route activities 2022 / 2023

European Cemeteries Route Manager, Mr Dušan Vrban, presented:

  • ASCE analysis and strategy
  • IT upgrades (CRM system)
  • New version of Artour app and completely new European Cemeteries Route app

4. Week of Discovering European Cemeteries 2024

SC member, Mr Miquel Trepat, presented the theme of the WDEC 2024 - "Cemeteries for environmental sustainability and committed to the fight against climate change."

5. Schools on cemeteries

SC member, Mrs Andreea Pop, presented past and current activities and achievements of the project Schools on cemeteries.

6. Research and science

SC member, Mrs Andreea Pop, presented past and current activities and achievements in the field of Research and science.

7. Communications

SC member, Mrs Renate Niklas highlighted the importance of communication and higher engagement on all available communication platforms (website, social tools, etc.) to be more visible.

8. New members and significant cemeteries

SC members, Mrs Melissa La Maida and Mr John Moffat, presented the new members and significant cemeteries of ASCE as well as new European Cemeteries Route members.

9. Financial report

ASCE president, Mrs. Lidija Pliberšek, presented a review of the financial status and situation of ASCE.

10. Elections

ASCE members voted for the new ASCE president and steering committee members. Among candidates, members voted for following:
  • Lidija Pliberšek, Maribor, Slovenia (president)
  • Melissa La Maida, Bologna, Italy (SC member and vide president)
  • Miquel Trepat Celis, Barcelona, Spain (SC member and vide president)
  • Renate Niklas, Vienna, Austria (SC member)
  • Valérie Madoka Naito, Dresden, Germany (SC member)
  • Thodoris Tzoumas, Skiathos, Greece (SC member)
  • Wenche Eriksson, Oslo, Norway (SC member)
  • Andreea Pop, Bucharest, Romania (SC member)

Newly elected president Lidija Pliberšek nominated new delegated representatives:
  • Theodora-Virginia (Rania) Dalli, Kifissia, Greece
  • Gábor Móczár, Budapest, Hungary
  • Sara Carlquist, Stockholm, Sweden
  • Ian Dungavell, London, United Kingdom

10. AGM 2024

Mr. Martin Ernerth presented an overview of the previous meetings. Then Mr Móczár Gábor Attila introduced the proposal to host the AGM 2024 in Budapest, Hungary.

11. Conclusion

Closing speech by Mr Ian Dungavell.

A new chapter in preserving European cemetery heritage

ASCE President, Lidija Pliberšek
Introductory thoughts of ASCE president, Mrs Lidija Pliberšek, at the beginning of a new 4-year mandate.

Dear members, partners, and supporters of ASCE,

I am extremely proud and grateful that, at this year's elections in Mantua, Italy, I was given the opportunity to continue the presidency of the Association of Significant Cemeteries in Europe. The trust you have placed in me fills me with immense gratitude. It is a trust I do not take lightly, and I pledge to proceed serving our shared mission with persistent devotion.

Twenty years ago, we embarked on a journey that was then relatively unknown. United with the same goal - the protection and promotion of the cultural heritage resting within European cemeteries - we started with just seven founding members. Today, with immense pride, I can say that we have grown into an organization with 180 members, a result of the hard work, dedication, and passion of each individual member. Our journey has been long but astonishingly successful.

The development our organization has experienced during this period has been remarkable. We established a clear vision and strategy that has been honed and perfected over the years. One of the key changes we have achieved is the professional administrative management of the organization and the digitization of our processes. We realized that in order to succeed and grow, it was essential to keep pace with the trends of the digital age. Today, we can proudly boast of the professional and digital support that enables members to actively participate in projects and contribute to our common goal.

Throughout, we have strived to strengthen the relationship between the presidency and the members. In the past, many of us pondered what ASCE could offer them. Today, we have reached a point where our members are empowered. They no longer ask what the organization can do for them but instead question what they can do for ASCE shared mission.

Our passion and dedication have led us to a moment where we can leverage this recognition to make our broader environment and institutions contemplate what they can do to assist and collaborate with us in preserving and showcasing the cultural heritage of European cemeteries. It is crucial for significant institutions, ministries, institutes, and others to integrate our mission into their operations. Our organization is prepared for this challenge, and with great optimism, I believe that together, we will fulfil our mission in the best possible way.

So, thank you for being part of this exceptional community. Thank you for your trust, dedication, and unwavering belief in what we do. May the next four years leave another important mark in the story of ASCE.

Lidija Pliberšek, M. Sc.
ASCE president

Virtual Colloquium on burial, cremation and alkaline hydrolysis

A free virtual colloquium, organised by the Cemetery Research Group, will take place on 17th November 2023 via zoom. Booking required.

About the event

On Friday, 17th November 2023, a virtual colloquium under the organisation of the Cemetery Research Group will take place via the zoom platform. 

Speakers from around the globe and from multiple disciplines will be discussing burial, cremation, and alkaline hydrolysis. The guest speaker will be Dr Brenda Mathijssen from the University of Groningen with her presentation "True nature burial: Unearthing the politics of defining an emerging death practice in The Netherlands".

The full programme with the list of speakers and their topics is available HERE.

Registration details

Attendance at this virtual colloquium is free of charge, but booking is required to secure your spot and receive Zoom invitations to the sessions you wish to attend.

To register, please complete the booking form HERE. Deadline for booking is 10th November 2023.

For any questions, please contact julierugg36@gmail.com.







The longest outdoor gallery in Vienna

Vienna Central Cemetery
A large photo exhibition, created as part of the project "Biodiversity in the Cemetery", is now on display at the Vienna Central Cemetery.

About the exhibition

Animals at the Vienna Central Cemetery

Vienna Central Cemetery now offers a new attraction: Peter Hanke, City Councillor for Finance, Economy, and Vienna Municipal Utilities, along with Renate Niklas, the Managing Director of Friedhöfe Wien GmbH, opened the longest outdoor gallery in Vienna. It shows animal photographs that were created as part of the research project "Biodiversity at the Cemetery".

The research project was initiated more than two years ago by the University of Vienna in collaboration with Friedhöfe Wien GmbH. Over time, extensive data on animals, plants, and fungi were collected, and fascinating photographs were produced. The exhibition of these images now makes the diverse wildlife on the city's cemeteries visible to all visitors of Vienna Central Cemetery.

Importance of cemeteries for city's climate

Animals at the Vienna Central Cemetery

"The area of the 46 municipal cemeteries constitutes about 1.2% of the entire city's area. This is roughly equivalent to the size of the 20th district of Vienna. The design of these areas has a significant impact on the city's climate and also serves as an important habitat. We are proud to protect the areas of the 46 municipal cemeteries and the animals that inhabit them to the best of our ability. Vienna's longest outdoor gallery shows in pictures the extent of biodiversity on Vienna's cemeteries," emphasized Hanke.

Renate Niklas expressed her gratitude for the excellent collaboration with the University of Vienna and project leader Thomas Filek: "The interim results underscore the importance of detailed design even in these spaces. People who have a grave on our cemeteries, plant and maintain it with greenery, make a significant contribution to flora and fauna, as well as the city's climate."

Sustainability measures have been derived from the research results, such as the creation of deadwood corners for insects and small animals. The gallery itself is also sustainable: The scaffolding was crafted from local larch wood anchored in the ground with earth spikes.

Excursion with an educational mission

Animals at the Vienna Central Cemetery

The images displayed in the gallery highlight the growing importance of protected habitats and retreats for animals in an increasingly urbanized environment. All people – Viennese residents, families, school and kindergarten groups, as well as tourists – can visit the gallery until approximately mid-2024. Admission is free.

The longest outdoor gallery in Vienna begins at the entrance to Gate 2 at Vienna Central Cemetery. It leads along two green strips to the Cemetery Church of Saint Karl Borromäus.

The cooling potential of cemeteries

The gallery as a destination for excursions emphasizes that cemeteries are more than just burial sites. Their design has a significant impact on the environment, from reducing tropical nights to the potential for rainwater infiltration. Recently, the results of an AIT study on the cooling potential of cemeteries were published. More information is available HERE.

Lisbon's 2nd Cultural Week in Cemeteries

Lisbon 2nd Cultural Week in Cemeteries
Between 7th and 15th October 2023, guided tours, concerts, photo exhibitions, workshops, virtual lectures, and other activities will take place at Lisbon's cemeteries.

About the 2nd Cultural Week in Cemeteries

Lisbon City Council's Cemetery Management Division, in partnership with various entities and associations linked to cemetery art and heritage, is organising the 2nd edition of Cultural Week in Cemeteries, to be held between 7th and 15th October 2023. This edition will be extended to the municipalities of Loures, Setúbal and Vila Franca de Xira, which have also joined the initiative.

Program

As in the previous year, there will be guided tours of Lisbon's cemeteries, including the British and German cemeteries. The highlight of this edition will be five new themed tours, comprising one for pre-school children.

The program will also include concerts, photographic exhibitions and workshops, virtual lectures, night visits and other activities. There will be Open Days, where participants will be able to go inside mausoleums and other cemetery buildings that are not usually accessible to the public. 

Overall, there will be more than 30 different activities, all free of charge but require prior registration by email. The program of all events can be found HERE.

For any further information, please contact cemiterios.visitas@cm-lisboa.pt.










ASCE Conference 2023: Live streaming and simultaneous translation

Simultaneous translation of ASCE Conference 2023
This year, a free live stream of the conference is available as well as the possibility of simultaneous translation of the conference into 5 different languages.

Great news for those who cannot attend the ASCE conference 2023 in person or who will be present at the conference in Mantua but are not the most sovereign in following foreign language presentations. 

This year, a free live stream of the conference is available as well as the possibility of simultaneous translation of the conference into 5 different languages (English, French, Greek, Italian and Spanish).

Below are the instructions for accessing the live stream and setting your preferred translation language.

Instructions for those present at the conference

  1. To listen or read the translation of the presentations in the desired language from your PC, smartphone or tablet click HERE.
  2. Choose one of the 5 languages available for translation to listen to or display on the device, as seen in the picture.
  3. After choosing your desired language click on Join.
  4. In the following, the translation will appear on the screen of your device. You can read it or listen to it with headphones connected to your device.
  5. To activate the audio, click on the speaker icon, available next to the flag representing the chosen language.

It is possible to listen to the translation even with the device locked. With the screen turned off the battery consumption is reduced. If necessary, it will be possible to recharge PCs, smartphones and tablets via the charging station available at the conference. For information, contact the staff present in the room.

Instructions for those who will follow the live stream remotely

  1. To follow the live stream of the conference on the YouTube channel from your PC, tablet or smartphone click HERE.
  2. To access the translation program:
    • Open another tab or window in your browser.
    • Connect HERE.
    • Choose one of the 5 languages available for the translation.
    • Attention: keep the screens of both platforms open to be able to watch the live streaming and listen to the translation at the same time.
In case of problems or questions, please contact us at admin@significantcemeteries.org
The above instructions in Italian language are available HERE.

Highlights from the Cemetery Conference in Varaždin

Cemetery Conference in Varaždin 2023
On September 14 and 15, 2023, the 1st scientific and professional conference on cemeteries took place in Varaždin, Croatia.

Jelena Sekelj (director of Parkovi d.o.o.) and Lidija Pliberšek (ASCE president)


The 1st scientific and professional conference on cemeteries, that  took place on September 14 and 15, 2023, at the Turist Hotel in Varaždin, Croatia, brought together a diverse group of experts from public institutions, utility companies, local self-government units, scientists and suppliers of technology and utility equipment. Among the participants at the conference was also the president of ASCE, Mrs Lidija Pliberšek.

The conference focus was on maintenance and future management of cemeteries. The Varaždin cemetery has a great cultural and historical significance as well as an exemplary combination of horticulture and artistic monuments. It is therefore not surprising that Varaždin was chosen as the venue for the 1st international scientific and professional conference on cemeteries.

1st scientific and professional conference on cemeteries 2023

The Mayor of Varaždin, Neven Bosilj, welcomed the lecturers and participants of the conference, and emphasized the cultural and historical importance of the Varaždin cemetery, as well as the need to preserve the heritage of its founder, Herman Haller. The director of Parkovi d.o.o., Jelena Sekelj, outlined the meeting's topics, including waste management, greenery protection, digitalization of funeral services, artificial intelligence at cemeteries, computerization of management, and more. 

The second day of the meeting was reserved for study visits to the City Cemetery in Varaždin and the Jewish Cemetery and the presentation of usage of electric vehicles in the maintenance of cemeteries. Since the conference was held as part of the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the first known recorded burial at the Varaždin cemetery, the exhibition "250 years of the Varaždin cemetery" was opened in the crypt of the church of St. Nikola and can be visited for free until October 7, 2023.

More about the event at www.parkovi.eu.