WDEC 2026 in Slovenia

The Chamber of Public Utilities of Slovenia (ZKGS), in cooperation with ASCE, launched a new nationwide initiative – the Slovenian Cemeteries Route project.

About the Slovenian Cemeteries Route project

The 2026 Week of Discovering European Cemeteries (WDEC) centered its activities on the theme of Quality Education, aligning with Goal 4 of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Within this framework, the Chamber of Public Utilities of Slovenia (ZKGS), in cooperation with ASCE, launched a new nationwide initiative – the Slovenian Cemeteries Route Project.

Inspired by the internationally recognised European Cemeteries Route, the project aims to connect Slovenian cemeteries into a unique cultural and tourist network that preserves memory, promotes heritage, and opens cemetery spaces to a wider public. By bringing together sites from across the country, the route creates a single platform for discovering and learning about Slovenia’s cultural, historical, and funerary heritage.

As part of the initiative, cemetery managers across Slovenia were invited to identify three key points of cultural or historical significance at their cemeteries. This collaborative effort brought together more than 40 points of interest across the country, showcasing notable individuals, unique monuments, and distinctive landscape features of Slovenian cemeteries.

The Slovenian Cemeteries Route app

The Slovenian Cemeteries Route has been fully integrated into a dedicated mobile application hosted on the ARTOUR platform, a network that also supports the European Cemeteries Route. The digital platform allows visitors to explore the nationwide heritage map dynamically.

To enhance the educational experience, the application incorporates innovative features, including:

• Interactive map navigation: Providing optimized routes and real-time navigation across the mapped locations.
• AI-powered interaction: An integrated AI system allows users to engage in virtual dialogues to learn more about specific historical figures and monuments.
• Customized audio descriptions: Tailored audio narratives allow visitors to listen to local history seamlessly while walking through the physical sites rather than relying solely on screen reading.

You can access the Slovenian Cemeteries Route app HERE.

Slovenian Cemeteries Route as a long-term initiative

The Slovenian Cemeteries Route Project does not conclude with this year’s edition. Instead, it lays the foundation for a long-term initiative. Through the mobile application, cemetery managers will be able to continue adding new content in the future, presenting important individuals, monuments, and memorials, developing thematic routes, and bringing visitors closer to stories that reflect the history, culture, and identity of local cemeteries.

By linking individual contributions into a shared national system, the project strengthens cross-border visibility and facilitates integration into broader European heritage initiatives. It also creates opportunities for professional exchange among public utility providers and cemetery managers, supporting the sharing of methodologies in heritage interpretation and digital documentation.

Through this collaborative model, the Slovenian Cemeteries Route is positioned to expand steadily, deepening its role as a reference point for cultural memory and reinforcing the long-term preservation and interpretation of cemetery heritage in Slovenia.

WDEC 2026 at Piran Municipal Cemetery

On 29 May 2026, a special guided tour “Stories of Piran Carved in Stone” took place at the Piran Municipal Cemetery in Piran, Slovenia.

Discovering the Stories of Piran

As part of the Week of Discovering European Cemeteries 2026, the Public Company Okolje Piran, in cooperation with the Italian Community of Piran, organized a guided tour of the Piran Municipal Cemetery, one of the most significant cultural heritage sites in the Slovenian coastal region.

The event was inspired by the publication of the new brochure “Piran Cemetery – A Journey Through Memory, Art and Local Identity”, prepared by historians Kristjan Knez and Marina Paoletić. Their research and dedication to preserving local heritage formed the basis of this activity, which aimed to reveal the cemetery not only as a place of remembrance but also as a unique open-air museum reflecting the history of Piran and its people.

A Journey Through Art, Architecture, and History

During the guided tour, visitors discovered the architectural and artistic value of eight remarkable family tombs belonging to some of the most influential Piran families. Each monument tells a story about the individuals buried there while also reflecting the artistic styles, social status, cultural influences, and values of the period in which it was created.

Among the highlights were the Bartole family tomb, known for its exceptional stone craftsmanship and symbolic motifs, and the Rota family tomb, inspired by ancient sarcophagi and dedicated to historian, musician, and archivist Stefano Rota. Visitors also explored the monumental Zarotti tomb, the elegant symbolism of the Cicogna tomb, and the artistic significance of the Fonda tomb, one of the finest examples of Art Nouveau funerary sculpture in the region.

A special part of the programme focused on the Neo-Gothic Church of Saints Hermagoras and Fortunatus, which has stood at the heart of the cemetery for more than 150 years. Participants learned about its history and the recently completed restoration of the church surroundings, including conservation work on the forecourt, stairways, and historic burial sites.

The tour concluded at the de Castro family chapel, whose distinctive architecture contributes to the visual and cultural identity of the cemetery complex.

Preserving Memory and Local Identity

Through this activity, visitors were invited to experience the cemetery as an open-air gallery, where art, architecture, history, and personal stories intertwine. The event highlighted the role of cemeteries as places of cultural memory and sustainable heritage, helping preserve local identity while fostering public appreciation of historical landscapes for future generations.

You can read more about the event HERE.

Photos from the event:

WDEC 2026 at Žale Cemetery

Don’t miss free guided tours and a special open-air concert at Žale Cemetery, held as part of the Week of Discovering European Cemeteries 2026.

Guided tours (25–31 May 2026)

During the Week of Discovering European Cemeteries 2026, ŽALE Javno podjetje, d.o.o. will organise free guided tours of Žale Cemetery in Ljubljana, Slovenia. The tours will take place from 25 to 31 May 2026 (inclusive). 

The guide will meet visitors in front of Plečnik's propylaea:

• 25–29 May 2026 at 5:00 PM
• 30–31 May 2026 at 12:00 PM

You will visit the famous Plečnik’s Žale, which has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will also see the final resting place of Jože Plečnik and other notable Slovenians, as well as works by renowned architects and sculptors and other important parts of Žale Cemetery, which is in fact an open-air museum.

Open-air concert (28 May 2026)

As part of the programme, a special open-air concert will also take place at Plečnik’s Žale on 28 May 2026, offering visitors a unique cultural experience in this remarkable setting.

For additional information, please contact ŽALE Javno podjetje, d.o.o. at tajnistvo@zale.si or +386 1 420 17 19.

About Žale Cemetery

Žale is one of Europe’s most beautiful cemeteries, thanks to its high cultural, historical, and artistic value. Many prominent figures are buried here, including poets, writers, sculptors, painters, composers, architects, actors, engineers, politicians, and athletes. The cemetery also contains burial grounds from World War I and World War II, as well as other memorials and works by notable architects and sculptors. It is also significant as the city’s second-largest park and is worth visiting in all seasons.

Photo exhibition "Significant cemeteries for sustainable Europe"

The company Pogrebno podjetje Maribor, presiding member of ASCE, has prepared a special photo exhibition at Pobrežje Cemetery in Maribor, Slovenia.

About the exhibition

The exhibition "Significant cemeteries for sustainable Europe" showcases photographs and descriptions of some good practices developed by ASCE members as part of the ASCE "Significant cemeteries for sustainable Europe" initiative, which promotes the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The installation presents the initiative, highlights activities implemented by nine cemeteries across Europe in 2024 and 2025, and also features the Peace Tree Project along with the cemeteries that have joined the project so far. These examples demonstrate how European cemeteries are actively working towards sustainability, addressing various aspects from environmental management to community engagement.

More than just a display of good practice, the exhibition seeks to raise awareness and inspire action. It invites visitors to see cemeteries not only as places of remembrance but also as key actors in sustainable development. By sharing these stories, it encourages communities across Europe to adopt similar approaches and reflect on sustainability in everyday life.

This long-term exhibition, located in front of the chapel at Pobrežje Cemetery in Maribor, Slovenia, is on display from September 2025 onwards.

Photos of the exhibition

*The entire photo album of the exhibition is available HERE.

WDEC 2025 in Slovenia

As part of the Week of Discovering European Cemeteries 2025, Slovenian cemeteries showcased sustainable practices that turn memorial spaces into living gardens of peace and reflection.

About the initiative

In cooperation between the Chamber of Public Utilities of Slovenia (ZKGS) and the Association of Significant Cemeteries in Europe (ASCE), various cemeteries in Slovenia have responded to the invitation to participate in this year's Week of Discovering European Cemeteries, which was held under the common theme "Gardens of 80", commemorating 80 years of peace since the end of World War II and contributing to the goal 16 of the UN 2030 agenda.

The following section summarizes selected activities organized by participating cities across the country.

Maribor

As part of WDEC 2025, the company Pogrebno podjetje Maribor, presiding member of ASCE, organized a series of events at Pobrežje Cemetery in Maribor. The program featured a flower bed exhibition with 80 sustainable plants symbolizing decades of peace, as well as a display of eight sustainably arranged model graves at the cemetery entrance, also part of the European initiative Meetings in the Gardens 2025.

A special cultural event with renowned writer, playwright, and storyteller Tone Partljič highlighted cemeteries as places of stories and memory. His engaging lecture and guided tour of Pobrežje Cemetery offered a unique perspective on history, heritage, and remembrance. Furthermore, schoolchildren explored history in an interactive way through a guided educational day.

Ljubljana

The company ŽALE Javno podjetje, d. o. o. prepared two model grave plantings at Žale Cemetery in Ljubljana, using drought-resistant plants that require less maintenance and water. In addition, one grave was specially designed in line with this year’s theme, Gardens of 80.

These installations reflect ŽALE’s commitment to sustainable cemetery management and the promotion of environmentally responsible practices. Through such efforts, ŽALE contributes to raising awareness of the ecological potential of cemeteries and their role in supporting peace, remembrance, and cultural heritage.

Domžale, Mengeš, Moravče

The company JKP-Prodnik carried out model grave plantings at the cemeteries in Domžale, Mengeš, and Moravče, using resilient perennials such as bergenia, rose, and heuchera. These plantings not only enhanced the visual appeal of the cemeteries but also supported water conservation and easier maintenance, serving as an example of good practice in sustainable cemetery management.

In addition, they emphasized that cemeteries are not only places of mourning and remembrance, but also play an important role in preserving cultural heritage. With thoughtful landscaping and green design, cemeteries can become attractive public spaces for visitors while promoting environmentally responsible practices.

Tržič

In Tržič, the company Podjetje Komunala Tržič d.o.o. undertook a comprehensive redesign of the ash scattering area at Kovor Cemetery. Aging cypress trees were replaced with 40 evergreens chosen for their disease resistance and neat appearance. Additionally, 20 roses were planted to provide continuous bloom and rich forage for bees throughout the season without the need for chemical treatment.

The existing grassy surface was replaced with turf, and an automated irrigation system was installed in the cemetery park area.  All these measures contribute not only to the visual appeal of the cemetery but will also improve the ability to preserve greenery in the cemetery in a more controlled, efficient, and sustainable way.

Murska Sobota

At Murska Sobota Cemetery, the company Komunala, javno podjetje, d.o.o. Murska Sobota planted nine trees to green the area, provide shade, and support a more sustainable and welcoming environment. Species such as hornbeam, ginkgo, and Japanese cherry were carefully chosen for their resilience, with mulching and watering basins installed to aid their growth.

Additionally, a historic grave dating back to 1921 was restored using resilient, sun-tolerant plants already on site. These plants were carefully cleaned, trimmed, and preserved, while the surrounding surface was covered with a layer of fine mulch to help retain moisture. This low-maintenance planting promotes biodiversity, providing a welcoming refuge for small animals, insects, and other wildlife.

Idrija

At Idrija Cemetery, the company Javno podjetje Komunala Idrija d.o.o. carried out the replanting of six graves of soldiers who fell during World War II. These graves are located along the pedestrian path leading to the cemetery entrance, making them a visible and respectful reminder of the area's wartime history.

The graves were replanted with drought-resistant perennials, and the thoughtful landscaping contributes not only to the visual dignity of the site but also to its role as a place of remembrance and local heritage.

Kranj

At the city cemetery in Kranj, the company Komunala Kranj d.o.o. created a model grave planting using low-maintenance, drought-resistant plants such as Campanula carpatica, Scaevola, and Dorotheanthus. The image below shows the condition of the grave before and after the redesign.

With this pilot project, the company aims to demonstrate how small, thoughtful choices in grave design can contribute to a more sustainable cemetery environment and to inspire visitors and families to adopt more environmentally friendly practices.