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 Madrid

The 2025 Madrid Book Fair highlights Europe’s Cultural Routes through a special photo exhibition, featuring the European Cemeteries Route among others.

About the exhibition

On June 1, 2025, the annual Madrid Book Fair was officially inaugurated and will continue welcoming visitors until June 15 in the iconic Retiro Park. This year’s edition not only celebrates literature but also shines a spotlight on European cultural routes.

In order to give visibility to the cultural routes in Spain, highlight their European dimension, and showcase the work carried out by each route, an exhibition has been installed along the Paseo de Coches del Retiro. It features various panels dedicated to different cultural routes of the European Community. Among the displays is one representing the European Cemeteries Route, illustrated by the striking image of The Kiss of Death (one of the most photographed funerary sculptures in Europe) located in the Poblenou Cemetery in Barcelona.

This project aligns with the ASCE Week of Discovering European Cemeteries, drawing attention to cemeteries not only as resting places but also as open-air museums that reflect artistic, historical, and social legacies.

WDEC 2025 in Rijeka

As part of WDEC 2025 in Rijeka, the photo exhibition “Mayors of Rijeka and Sušak” and guided tours explored the legacy of 15 former city leaders buried at Kozala and Trsat cemeteries.

About the event

On Monday, May 26, 2025, at 18:00, Kozala Cemetery hosted the opening of the photo exhibition “The City and Mayors of Rijeka and Sušak” by Petar Fabijan, marking the start of this year’s Week of Discovering European Cemeteries in Rijeka. The exhibition showcases the grave sites of 15 mayors and chiefs of Rijeka and Sušak buried in the Kozala and Trsat cemeteries.

The event featured a musical performance by students from the Ivan Matetić Ronjgov Music School and was officially opened by Nives Torbarina, Director of KD Kozala d.o.o., and Zvonimir Bačić, Head of Technical Affairs at KD Kozala d.o.o. Attendees then joined an educational cemetery walk led by art historian Daina Glavočić and Professor of Fine Arts Theodor de Canziani.

The program continued at Trsat Cemetery on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, at 18:00.

Visitors can also explore the featured gravesites independently using the ARtour mobile app or by downloading the PDF brochure available at the following links:

• English brochure
• Croatian brochure

Highlights from Kozala Cemetery

Highlights from Trsat Cemetery

WDEC 2024 at the Drenova Cemetery

The Week of Discovering European Cemeteries 2024 in Rijeka, held from May 14 to 31, was dedicated to the horticulture at Rijeka's largest cemetery, Drenova.

Environmental Sustainability and Climate Change

The theme of this year's Week of Discovering European Cemeteries was "Environmental sustainability and climate change".

Members of ASCE and other European cemeteries are determined allies in the collective fight against climate change. For years, they have been working on mitigating its effects through a wide range of actions and initiatives that demonstrate a strong commitment to the environment. Their activities include responsible use of fossil fuels and water, integrating renewable energy sources, respecting the biological diversity of cemetery plants and fauna, improving native vegetation, responsible waste management, and electrifying their vehicle fleets.

This year's WDEC aimed to raise awareness about the importance of addressing climate change through various events and activities, showcasing different ways in which cemeteries and their visitors can contribute to reducing the negative impact on the environment.

Week of Discovering European Cemeteries in Rijeka

The Week of Discovering European Cemeteries in Rijeka was celebrated from May 14th to May 31st.

The program began on Monday, May 14th, with the grand opening of an exhibition displayed on pedestals along Korzo. The exhibition introduced residents and visitors to the rich horticulture of Rijeka's largest cemetery, Drenova, highlighting its connection to the natural environment.

Horticulture is a valuable aspect of every cemetery, receiving special attention in maintenance, landscaping, and enhancement. Our cemeteries serve as urban parks. The diverse horticultural species, carefully planned and arranged, invite visitors to enjoy relaxing walks. These spaces create intimate areas enriched with vibrant colors, shapes, and scents, as well as numerous geometric forms of plants that intertwine and complement the diverse terrain, creating an extraordinary natural dynamic within the cemetery.

The program continued on Monday, May 27th, at 6:00 PM with a tour of the Drenova Cemetery, accompanied by musical performances by students of the Ivan Matetić Ronjov Music School under the guidance of their mentors. The event also featured a display of photographs of plant species and an educational walk led by Mr. Goran Huljenić, mag.ing.silv., from Urbani šumari d.o.o. Novo Čiče.

The remaining days were reserved for individual visits and cemetery tours, assisted either by the ARTOUR  mobile application or the brochure available at the following links:

• English brochure
• Croatian brochure

Event photos: