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.

Invitation to NEPHESH | Protecting the Shadow

Teatro delle Albe invites you to experience NEPHESH | Protecting the Shadow, a headphone-guided walk that redefines how we contemplate life, death, and historical cemetery spaces.

About the experience

NEPHESH | Protecting the Shadow is an immersive site-specific listening experience by Teatro delle Albe, conceived and directed by Alessandro Renda. Designed for small groups of participants, the project transforms the cemetery into a space for reflection, inviting visitors to explore themes of memory, grief, and the fragility of life through a silent, headphone-guided journey.

Moving among graves, monuments, sculptures, and hidden corners of the cemetery, participants are accompanied by a carefully crafted sound dramaturgy that weaves together personal stories, literary and philosophical reflections, and perspectives on death drawn from different cultures and traditions. The experience unfolds as a collective yet deeply personal journey, encouraging contemplation of the bonds between people, memory, and place.

Neither a guided tour nor a conventional theatre performance, NEPHESH | Protecting the Shadow offers a unique way of engaging with cemetery heritage. As visitors walk through the site, the cemetery emerges as a threshold between past and present, life and death, revealing its role not only as a place of remembrance but also as a space for dialogue, reflection, and cultural encounter.

The title Nephesh comes from the Hebrew word that can mean “breath,” “soul,” “life,” or “living being,” reflecting the project's exploration of what remains after death and how memory continues to shape the lives of those who remain.

Summer Tour Dates 2026

➤ Bologna | Cimitero della Certosa

• May 26th, 2026 | 19:00
• June 9th, 11th, 16th, and 25th, 2026 | 19:15
• July 9th, 17th, and 23rd, 2026 | 19:15

In collaboration with Per Aspera Festival

➤ Gorizia | Cimitero Monumentale

• August 27th, 28th, and 29th, 2026 | 18:00

Festival In\Visible Cities - Contaminazioni Digitali

Further Information

For additional information, please contact Francesca Venturi at info@teatrodellealbe.com or +39 335 7173664.

Related links:

• Presentation (PDF)
• Official Website
• Official Trailer

*Photos source: www.teatrodellealbe.com

Embracing peace and preserving cemetery heritage

In 2025, let us unite to promote peace, justice, and the vital role cemeteries play in preserving our shared heritage.

Dear friends and colleagues, cemetery travellers.

You know how time stops when you visit the cemetery. All the rush of the outside world and conflicting thoughts become distant. Monuments reveal the stories of human love, devotion and dedication to enjoy life together. Cemetery traveller is a peaceful traveller. One that will always be careful about where she walks, what he eats and how she talks. Thoughtful about nature and all living beings. Mindful about the importance of preserving the heritage resting in cemeteries.

This is why we have to keep our initiative of Significant cemeteries for sustainable Europe. That is why in 2025 our focus will be on United nations goal 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions.

Because humanity needs peace to sustain. More than ever it will be important for all our members and partners to join efforts. Invite people to cemeteries. Let them experience the feelings when time stops. When all the rush of the outside world and conflicting thoughts become distant.

Convince humanity to become cemetery travellers. Preserve and protect the heritage of humanity resting in cemeteries.

The ASCE presidency wishes you peaceful holidays and 2025.

UNESCO initiative from Germany

The "Kuratorium Immaterielles Erbe Friedhofskultur" invites you to join the initiative "Intangible cultural heritage: Cemetery culture in Europe".

About the initiative

Cemetery culture is part of the "Nationwide Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage" in Germany. It refers to the architecture of cemeteries, burial practices and mourning and commemoration rituals. Associated craft techniques and customs preserve this cultural form and ensure the maintenance of the cemeteries.

The official partner of the German UNESCO Commission for the care, preservation and further development of this intangible cultural heritage is the "Kuratorium Immaterielles Erbe Friedhofskultur". This non-profit association is now reaching for a UNESCO nomination of "Intangible cultural heritage:  Cemetery culture in Europe" as a common initiative of several European countries. To achieve this aim, it is necessary that other European countries obtain the Intangible Cultural Heritage status for their national cemetery culture.

Call for cooperation

The Kuratorium is now looking for European partners. If you are interested in collaboration, please contact Tobias Pehle (director of the Kuratorium Immaterielles Erbe Friedhofskultur) at info@kulturerbe-friedhof.de or +49 163 171 70 39 925.

The official call for cooperation can be found HERE.

*Photo by Tobias Pehle, source https://www.unesco.de/en/culture-and-nature/intangible-cultural-heritage/cemetery-culture

The Cemetery Research Group website

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

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

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

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

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

Plečnik's Žale on the UNESCO list

Plečnik's Žale were recognized as a site of exceptional universal value and were included on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The 44th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, which began on 16 July 2021, confirmed the entry of selected Plečnik's works in Ljubljana on this prestigious world list. In addition to the complex of the Plečnik's Žale - Garden of All Saints, located at Žale Cemetery, six of Plečnik's other works in the City of Ljubljana (known today as Plečnik's Ljubljana) have been added to the list of world cultural and natural heritage.

About Plečnik's Žale

Plečnik's Žale - The Garden of All Saints is a part of Žale Cemetery in Ljubljana and was built according to the plans of the famous Slovenian architect Jože Plečnik in the years 1937 to 1940. The entrance to the Garden of All Saints is designed monumentally, like the mighty Propylaea. The central building of the mourning complex is the Chapel, around which are arranged mortuary chapels or chapels dedicated to various saints and patrons of Ljubljana parishes. These are surrounded by an exceptional park arrangement of various trees, bush fences, a fountain, pillars and lamps. At the end of the Garden of All Saints, Plečnik placed a building of carpentry workshops, which is decorated with frescoes.

Sites of exceptional universal value

The selected buildings, complexes and spatial arrangements meet the criterion “to be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates (a) significant stage(s) in human history.” At the same time, they meet the requirements for authenticity and integrity and have a regulated legal protection and management system. All three represent the essence of the concept of so-called exceptional universal value, which is justified on a global scale.

The Plečnik's Žal area has so far been a registered area of cultural heritage and enlisted in the Register of Immovable Cultural Heritage of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Slovenia. In addition, Plečnik's Žale is a cultural monument of national importance, and also bears the European Heritage Label from the intergovernmental initiative.

*Source: https://www.zale.si

Contemporary funeral trends shaping the cultural heritage of the future

Straight clean lines. Modest decoration. Absence of traditional religious symbols. This is the cemetery heritage of the future.  

The new farewell hall at Pobrežje Cemetery

Pogrebno podjetje Maribor, the presiding member of ASCE, has completed the construction of a new farewell hall at Pobrežje Cemetery. One of the largest investments of the company offers a modern space for the implementation of funeral and cemetery activities as well as other occasions, such as meetings and conferences. It includes rooms for the reception of mourners with 72 seats, advanced audio and video equipment and a landscaped outdoor park. 

Cultural heritage of the future

With straight clean lines and without excessive decorative elements, the design of this modern complex reflects the architectural and funerary trends of today. Minimalism and practicality are at the forefront and with the absence of traditional religious symbols this complex is moving away from the traditional cemetery infrastructure we are used to seeing in European cemeteries. A similar trend can be observed on graves and tombstones that are becoming more and more typified, simple and unadorned. In a way, similar to each other. 

Nevertheless, graves, monuments, architecture, symbols and funerary customs present at today's cemeteries are a representation of our current society. They are the legacy that we will leave behind and will tell stories of the world that we live in now. Therefore, it is necessary to acknowledge their importance and try to protect and preserve them, just like we try to preserve every other aspect of cultural heritage in cemeteries.

Mirogoj on the “Most Endangered” list

The Ministry of Culture and Media of Croatia nominated the Cemetery Complex of Mirogoj to the 7 Most Endangered Programme 2021.

Monumental Cemetery Mirogoj

Monumental Cemetery Mirogoj, founded in 1876, is one of the most representative monuments in the city of Zagreb. With its unique architecture and numerous historical figures and Croatian personalities buried there, this cemetery has become a place visited by many domestic and foreign visitors.

The 7 Most Endangered Programme 2021

On March 2020, the city of Zagreb was hit by an extremely strong earthquake, which caused severe damage to the Cemetery Complex of Mirogoj. In addition, severe rains and the COVID-19 pandemic situation made it impossible to start renovations and repairs. So the Ministry of Culture and Media of Croatia nominated the Cemetery Complex of Mirogoj to the 7 Most Endangered Programme 2021 - a civil society campaign that identifies endangered monuments and sites in Europe and mobilizes public and private partners on a local, national and European level to find a viable future for those sites.

Cemetery Complex of Mirogoj is now one of the 12 European heritage sites shortlisted for this programme. And maybe to have a place on the "Most Endangered" list does not seem a position to be envied for. But it should be. Because not only that with this nomination, the first step was made to protect and rehabilitate this special site. This nomination also symbolizes the awareness and recognition of high level cultural values of Mirogoj Cemetery and European cemeteries in general. 

For that we congratulate the Monumental Cemetery of Mirogoj and wish them a fast recovery!

*Photo source: http://7mostendangered.eu/sites/cemetery-complex-of-mirogoj-zagreb-croatia/

WDEC 2019 OPEN HOUSE TURIN (IT)- ARCHITECTURE AND PARTICIPATION

OPEN HOUSE EVENT IN THE  MONUMENTAL CEMETERY OF TURIN

On the occasion of the Week for the discovery of European cemeteries, OPEN HOUSE TORINO organizes a visit between the architecture and the stories of a city in the city: the Monumental Cemetery of Turin.
The Monumental Cemetery of Turin has preserved works of art, precious architecture and moving landscapes from the early 19th century.
Manuela Vetrano of the blog La Civetta di Torino, accredited operator, accompanies the group inside the large, fascinating field - a city in the city.

With a message: a city designed better in buildings, in interiors, in public space is a city capable of making us live better.
Open House Torino is an invitation to discover, in a big party for curiosity and a sense of belonging.

The event is organized by the cultural association Open House Torino, formed in 2017 by a group of architects and city enthusiasts.

FREE VISIT WITH RESERVATION REQUIREMENT - MAXIMUM NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS 30

MORE DETAILS


WHAT IS OHT

Open House Turin is a totally free public event, designed to allow you to visit houses, buildings, places that are not normally accessible and thus discover the richness of architecture and the urban landscape. For a weekend a year gives the opportunity to visit historic, modern or contemporary buildings, private apartments, offices, green or social spaces, excellence in the city, recovered structures.
The event of 8-9 June 2019 will be the third Turin edition of an international format.
The idea of ​​Open House was born in London in 1992 from the work of founder Victoria Thornton and has since spread throughout the world. To date, the cities of the Open House Worldwide network are more than thirty, distributed in every continent.
In Italy, Turin follows Open House Rome (from 2012) and Open House Milan (from 2016).
The first edition in 2017 was a great success, with over 38 thousand visits and around 15 thousand visitors on over 100 buildings. In the second edition the event has grown further, exceeding 55 thousand visits and 18 thousand visitors in more than 140 places.
Open House Turin is aimed at all citizens, not just the core of architects, and asks all of them to support them as volunteers, owners, designers or simply to help spread the project - share with #openhousetorino! The aim of the event is to get to know the public together a great common heritage and reflect on the role of the places in which we live.

WDEC 2019 Spoon River on the banks of the river Po in Turin (IT)

4/6/19 Monumental cemetery of Turin - "Spoon River on the banks of the PO"
An appointment with the final representation of the creative writing workshop on the collective memory kept at the cemetery, created by AFC Torino SpA, edited by the writer Culicchia with music by Li Calzi and the words of the boys of Liceo D'Azeglio. After reading Lee Master's famous anthology and visiting the graves of some characters belonging to the culture of the city and the country, from Silvio Pellico to Macario and Fred Buscaglione, on the wave of suggestions and emotions, the students of the third classical high school of Professor Marco Vacchetti, followed by Culicchia, have released their poetic creativity.
Free entry from Via Varano 39.

More information

WDEC 2019 TURIN Public talk to introduce the book "STTL -SIT TIBI TERRA LEVIS"

In occasion of  WDEC 2019
In Turin, Italy  on 25th of May at 6pm in City Library Primo Levi, Leoncavallo street, 17

Meeting with the author.
Luca Cardinalini presents "STTL Sit tibi terra levis" Editrice Derive Approdi presentation in collaboration with the cemetery services of the City of Turin.
The book is a journey through the cemeteries of Italy, a sort of guided visit to the characters who have written important pages of Italian post-war history: politicians, singers, actors, sportsmen, writers ...


Luca Cardinalini.

Born in Marsciano in the province of Perugia (IT), in February 1962. He is a journalist for Rai Sport

Participation at the Adriatic Cemetery Days 2018

On Monday and Tuesday, 19 and 20 November 2018, the third conference Adriatic Cemetery Days took place in Zadar, Croatia.

Success in regular evaluation by EPA

Certified as Cultural route of the Council of Europe! 

To retain the label of Cultural route of the Council of Europe, European Cemeteries Route has been evaluated in the framework of the 2017-18 three-year evaluation-cycle by European Institute of Cultural routes.

First case in Italy for an Art Curator, Sergio Rebora, to cooperate with City Council (Milan)

The Friends of the Monumentale of Milan are proud to annouce that as a result of their petition signed   by over 1,200 people, the Municipality appointed an Art Curator with the specific tasks of mapping graves, works of art and promoting the artistic and cultural heritage of the cemetery.    

Monumental cemetery of Milan presents: ''Open for us''

The Friends of the Monumentale invite you to discover and enjoy some monuments that are not open to the public. The event "OPEN FOR US" takes place on March 4th at 2 pm at the Monumentale within the frame of MUSEOCITY. 

AGM 2018: Accommodation in Innsbruck

Accommodation options for this year's AGM and Conference, taking place in Innsbruck (Austria) from 20 to 22 September 2018.

Here you can choose between different accommodation options for the duration of your stay in Innsbruck attending Conference and AGM 2018.

Attention please: After our AGM, the 2018 UCI Road World Championship will take place in Innsbruck, so it is very important to book your accommodation as early as possible!

Rooms & Availability

The AGM will be held at the City Hall of Innsbruck. Close to this building you can find the Penz Hotel and the STAGE12. They are the closest hotels to the City Hall.

These hotels offer special rates for guests of the city (ASCE). Below, you can find contact information of each of the hotels along with information pertaining to possible room options and cancellation information as well as the numbers of available rooms and conditions for renting and cancelling.

The Penz Hotel

Adolf-Pichler-Platz 3
A-6020 Innsbruck

t. +43 512 57 56 57 - 0
office@thepenz.com

Daily Room Rate:
September 19^th to 23^rd 2018

30 Superior rooms:
for single use at a rate of € 195.00
for double use at a rate of € 255.00

The above mentioned rate is valid per room and night, including our rich American Breakfast Buffet, free Wi-Fi-Internet, service and all taxes.

Please reserve the rooms directly in the Hotel with the Codeword: "ASCE"
ASCE- code till the 6^th of August 2018. Further to this date rooms allocation shall be subject to Hotel’s availability.

Contact person is Mr. Oliver Singewald

STAGE12 – Hotel by Penz

Maria-Theresien-Straße 12
A-6020 Innsbruck

t. +43 512 31 23 12
office@stage12.at

Daily Room Rate:
September 19^th to 23^rd 2018

50 rooms:
for single use at a rate of € 124.00 inclusive buffet breakfast
for double use at a rate of € 154.00 inclusive buffet breakfast

All prices are given in EURO; including current Austrian value added tax, service charge and local taxes except the City Tax and are not commissionable. All adaptations of prices due to changes by law shall be borne by the client.

Important:
in the subject matter use the Codeword: "ASCE"
ASCE- code till the 6^th of August 2018. Further to this date rooms allocation shall be subject to Hotel’s availability.

Please fill out the Credit Card Approval Form!

Contact person is Mrs. Franziska Ilmer, B.A.

Another hotel that is not so close offers special rates is the Hotel Leipziger Hof:

Hotel Leipziger Hof

Defreggerstraße 13
6020 Innsbruck

t. +43 512 34 35 25
info@leipzigerhof.at

Daily Room Rate:
September 19^th to 23^rd 2018

20 rooms:
15 rooms for single use at a rate of € 100.00 inclusive buffet breakfast
5 rooms for double use at a rate of € 150.00 inclusive buffet breakfast

Please reserve the rooms directly in the Hotel with the Codeword: "ASCE"

Contact person is Mr. Andreas Perger

All the forms needed for booking of the hotels are available on this link.

However you can also book other hotels in Innsbruck – if you want to. But please keep the Road World Championship in mind!

The European Heritage Days at the New Cemetery in Belgrade

Themed Walks at the New Cemetery on 17 September, 24 September and 1 October 2017

WDEC 2017 - Aleksandri Cemetery in Narva (Estonia)

During the Week for Discovering European cemeteries Estonian Heritage Society organises a guided walk and voluntary maintenanc work at Aleksandri Cemetery in Narva, Estonia.

WDEC 2017 - TORINO (Italy) "Discovering the Immortals" with pictures of THE SILENT CITY

"Discovering the Immortals", the Photo Group calling "Photograffiatori", in collaboration with the Turin Civic Libraries, presents THE SILENT CITY Fragments of art and History in a photographic collection.

Inauguration Thursday 18 May at 6.30 pm, free admission.The exhibition will close on 30 May

For more information

WDEC 2017 Discovering the Immortals in Torino (Italy)

At the Monumental Cemetery of Turin (Italy) many events and guided tours on the occasion of the WDEC Week of Discovering European Cemeteries.
The theme of this edition is Discovering the Immortals and we assure you great emotions and cultural accretion!

Have a look at the calendar