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.

WDEC 2023 in Rijeka

The Week of Discovering European Cemeteries 2023 in Rijeka, Croatia, was held from May 22nd to 31st and was dedicated to the Trsat and Kozala cemeteries.

As every year, KD Kozala d.o.o. celebrated the Week of Discovering European Cemeteries (WDEC). In Rijeka, the event was held for the first time in 2015, and over the years our fellow citizens have recognized it as another way to get to know the history of the city.

This year's theme: Trsat and Kozala cemeteries

The theme of this year's WDEC was "Cemeteries for health and wellbeing". In other words - pointing out how the attitude towards cemeteries can improve our life. The meaning of life should be seen through the prism of a place that many shy away from, not wanting to face the fact that the circle of life and death is constantly present in nature, and that man is only a part of it. Cemeteries are not only places of farewells and reminders of one's own transience, but also places where the culture, progress and maturity of a community are reflected. The attitude towards life is also reflected in the attitude and care we have towards cemeteries, and we can proudly say that Rijeka's cemeteries have long since become a part of our lives, a part of this city. They have become parks and promenades that passers-by do not bypass, but quite the opposite.

The Week of Discovering European Cemeteries 2023 in Rijeka was held from May 22nd to 31st.

Program

The program began on Monday, May 22nd, at 11:00 a.m., with the opening of the exhibition on Korzo, with photographs of grave sites in the Trsat and Kozala cemeteries.

On the same day, at 6 p.m., a guided tour of the Trsat cemetery was held under the expert guidance of art historian Daina Glavočić and with musical accompaniment performed by students and professors of the Ivan Matetić Ronjgov Music School in Rijeka.

The guided tour of the Kozala cemetery was held on Wednesday, May 24th, starting at 6 p.m., also with musical accompaniment performed by students and professors of the Ivan Matetić Ronjgov Music School in Rijeka.

Other days were intended for individual visits to the Kozala and Trsat cemeteries with the help of a special brochure (in Croatian) prepared for this year's Week of Discovering European Cemeteries.

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

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

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: www.wikipedia.org

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.

 

WDEC 2023 at the Flaybrick Memorial Gardens

A woodland walk for health and wellbeing.

About the event

On Saturday, 27 May 2023, the first of the health and wellbeing walks will take place at the Flaybrick Memorial Gardens in Birkenhead, United Kingdom, attended by the early onset dementia sufferers.

In the Flaybrick Memorial Gardens there are over 650 trees and a woodland walk provides well known health benefits of proximity to trees to the visitors.

WDEC 2023 at the Arnos Vale Cemetery

Check out the rich program that will take place at the Arnos Vale Cemetery in Bristol, UK, during the Week of Discovering European Cemeteries 2023.

Burial grounds & archaeology – online talk

Wednesday, 24 May 2023, at 6:30 pm

In this talk, archaeologist Robyn Lacey will discuss working in burial grounds as an archaeologist. She'll share insights gathered from these sites through excavation and surface survey and the importance of preserving them for future generations. Furthermore, Robyn will discuss her ongoing PhD research on burial landscape development in colonial settlements in North America and what it tells us about the people living and dying there.

More info and ticket purchase at https://arnosvale.org.uk/burial-grounds-archaeology/

Birds and Bird song tour

Saturday, 27 May 2023, at 10:30 am

Witness nature’s musical marvel of birdsong. The cemetery is a haven for birdlife and is home to a beautiful array of plants, wildlife, and trees. This walk promises a unique aural experience of hearing the gorgeous songs of resident and migrant bird species, with tips on their identification, led by ecologist Mary Wood. This walk will take in various parts of the 45-acre site from grassland to woodland, from managed land to wild spaces.

More info and ticket purchase at https://arnosvale.org.uk/birds-and-birdsong-tour/

Ceremonial way tour

Sunday, 28 May 2023, at 10:30 am

Explore the beautiful architecture and amazing graves of Bristol’s past, and hear stories of the people involved, in our physically accessible Ceremonial Way Tour. Learn fascinating facts about Arnos Vale and enjoy the beautiful landscape and views on this carefully designed tour. This is our most accessible tour - it's on the flat and has regular rest points on the route.

The tour is free as part of Bristol Walk Fest. Reservations are required at https://arnosvale.org.uk/ceremonial-way-tour-2/

Big Bug Hunt for family audiences

Tuesday, 30 May 2023, at 10:30 am and at 11:30 am

Get outdoors and find clues of the brilliant bugs that live in Arnos Vale. Find out why the cemetery is an amazing habitat and then learn how you can welcome critters into your garden. Finish off with a fantastic bug hunt in the woods. This activity is suitable for 4 + but all ages are welcome. Children must be accompanied by an adult. 

More info and ticket purchase at https://arnosvale.org.uk/big-bug-hunt/

A Bat Walk

Wednesday, 31 May 2023 and Thursday, 1 June 2023, at 8:45 pm

Spend a fascinating evening in the knowledgeable company of ecologists from Mott McDonald. They'll share research and facts on bats and the natural history of the wonderful species found here, including lesser horseshoe bats and pipistrelles. They'll be joined by Janine Marriott who'll share the history of the landscape, the reasons why it's so special for bats, and how they are of such value to the cemetery and Bristol.

More info and ticket purchase at https://arnosvale.org.uk/bat-tour/

The funerals that went wrong – online talk

Wednesday, 7 June 2023, at 18:30 pm

We all know how Victorian funerals were supposed to be conducted? They were terribly staid and rigid and conforming to societal convention... right? Wrong. In "The Funerals That Went Wrong", discover how, in the moment when decorum and etiquette counted the most, the dead were overlooked by the drama of the human condition. Sometimes humorous, sometimes mortifying, these stories trample on the Victorian ideal of the Good Death.

More info and ticket purchase at https://arnosvale.org.uk/the-funerals-that-went-wrong/

WDEC 2023 at the New Cemetery of Podgorze

Join us on the guided tour "In footsteps of famous people", taking place on 31 May 2023, at the New Cemetery of Podgorze in Krakow.

About the event

As part of this year’s Week of Discovering European Cemeteries, the Association PODGORZE.PL invites you to a free guided walk around the New Cemetery of Podgorze in Krakow, Poland.

The event on the topic "In footsteps of famous people" will take place on 31 May 2023, at 18.00, starting at the main gate of the cemetery (Wapienna Street).

Following the success of last year's walk we would like to invite you again to the New Cemetery of Podgorze and explore the second part of it. We will visit the graves and hear the stories of well-known people buried at this cemetery: actors, entrepreneurs and singers.

Our guides will be members and friends of Association PODGORZE.PL.

More on https://www.facebook.com/events/152980611049452

WDEC 2023 at the Southampton Old Cemetery

Check out the themed walks that will take place at the cemetery during the WDEC 2023 and afterwards.

Six Coronations, an Abdication, and some other Royal Connections

Sunday, 21st May 2023, at 2:00 pm

To celebrate the Coronation of King Charles III, this walk looks at some Coronations from times past, the Abdication of King Edward VIII and some Royal visits to the Town.

You swallowed what?

Sunday, 11th June 2023, at 2:00 pm

On this walk we will hear the stories of the men, women and children who swallowed a variety of things and unfortunately did not live to tell the tale. Some of those things that were swallowed, which should not have been swallowed, turned out to become fatal. Unfortunately, others, who swallowed things for a variety of reasons did suffer in agony and some swallowed things by accident and these outcomes were disastrous. Please note this is not for the faint hearted.

People of Tudor House

Sunday, 16th July 2023, at 2:00 pm

This very well-known building in Southampton was saved, and restored, thanks to William Francis Gummer Spranger and was the town’s first museum, opening in 1912. Buried in the Southampton Old Cemetery are people who lived, or worked, there or who had other connections to the story of Tudor House. Come and find out about them!

"Death in a Victorian house"

Saturday, 9th September 2023, at 2:00 pm

On this walk we will hear the stories of the men, women and children who died in strange and awful circumstances in their own homes. Their houses held a multitude of hidden perils most in plain sight, the bedrooms, the kitchens, the scullery, the living room and outhouse all these places became dangerous. Some of these events were simple accidents, others were intentional, and some even wilful.

More about the themed walks

All walks last approximately 90 minutes.

These walks are free, nevertheless a donation is both recommended and very much welcome.

Booking is advisable for all the walks to avoid disappointment, numbers are now limited.

Additional information and booking at www.fosoc.org

WDEC 2023 at the Cemetery of Montjuïc

This year, Cementiris de Barcelona joins the Week of Discovering European Cemeteries with the 1st Orienteering in Montjuïc Cemetery.

About the event

The 1st Orienteering in Montjuïc Cemetery (Barcelona, Spain) will take place on Saturday, 27 May 2023, at 18:00. The organization of the event has been carried out in collaboration with COC, the Catalan Orienteering Club.

The race will take place in the afternoon taking advantage of the daylight and when there are no other visitors. Despite wanting to bring the cemetery closer to new activities and audiences, we must also guarantee daily services.

Orienteering requires navigational skills for using a map and compass to navigate from point to point in diverse and usually unfamiliar terrain whilst moving at speed. Participants are given a specially prepared topographical map which they have to follow to complete the activity in the shortest time. 

Monjuïc Cemetery, thanks to its size and intricate structure, becomes the perfect spot for an Orienteering. In order to maximize the number of participants, several levels will be offered. Thus, professional runners, beginners and families with children can be part of it.

Nothing like it has ever been done and it is a very original idea for exposing the cemeteries in a different perspective to all their visitors.

Registration required

The Orienteering is a free activity and prior registration is required.
For further information visit https://cementirimontjuic.clubcoc.cat/cat/

WDEC 2023: Cemeteries for health and wellbeing

This year, the Week of Discovering European Cemeteries celebrates the life-enhancing properties of the cities of the dead.

People think cemeteries are for the deceased, but they are for the living too. Connecting people with cemeteries can improve their wellbeing, mental health and quality of life. And therefore, this year, the Week of Discovering European Cemeteries, taking place from 26 May to 4 June, will celebrate the life-enhancing properties of the cities of the dead.

Participating cemeteries are invited to come up with activities which enable people to: 

Connect

• Build togetherness through emotional responses to shared experiences.
• Share knowledge, reminiscences and stories using community events to break down barriers and learn from others.
• Connect through food with a memory café.
• Create opportunities for people to collaborate, regardless of who they are.

Be Active

• Spend time learning about nature.
• Go on a health walk with family, friends, neighbours… or strangers.

Take Notice

• Spend some time being still and quiet, experiencing the cemetery environment in all its tranquillity with no mobile phones.
• Go for a walk in the natural space, look, listen, smell and touch. Wander and become enchanted. Switch off and take it slow.
• Seek out a magical moment of personal discovery

Keep Learning

• Encourage creativity: make something to take home as a tangible memory.
• Host learning activities for schools, families, singletons and older people… everybody.

Give

• Volunteer with a cemetery friends group.

Share your activities

We invite you to send us the programs, photos and other materials of your planned activities during WDEC 2023 to the email admin@significantcemeteries.org. We will be happy to publish them on the ASCE website and social networks.