Commemorative tree-planting event at the Kalavryta Cemetery

On November 8th, 2025, the Kalavryta Cemetery will host a tree-planting event in remembrance of the victims of World War II and as a symbol of commitment to peace and justice.

About the event

The General Secretary of the Kalavryta Holocaust Victims Association, with the support of the Municipality of Kalavryta, invites you to participate in a commemorative tree-planting event at the Kalavryta Cemetery in Greece, which will take place on November 8th, 2025, at 10:00 a.m.

This event is organised as part of the ASCE Significant Cemeteries for Sustainable Europe initiative, under the 2025 theme Gardens of 80, marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and aligning with Goal 16 of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions.

Program

The program will begin at 10:00 a.m. with a memorial service for the fallen and widows of Kalavryta at the Chapel of All Saints, followed by tree planting at 10:30 a.m.

During the event, 80 new cypress trees will be planted to replace the old ones, reinforcing the cemetery as a natural place of remembrance and awareness. The Kalavryta Cemetery is deeply connected to the events of World War II, hosting the graves of 677 men executed during the German occupation on December 13, 1943, as well as the women who later contributed to rebuilding the community.

Through this event, descendants of the martyrs and the wider community will honor the past, celebrate resilience, and strengthen intergenerational commitment to peace and justice.

Event video

WDEC 2024 at the Dubovac Catholic Cemetery

As part of WDEC 2024, high school students attended a guided tour at the Dubovac Catholic Cemetery in Karlovac, Croatia.

About the event

In Karlovac, as part of the Week of Discovering European Cemeteries, the company Zelenilo organized a free tour of the Dubovac Catholic Cemetery, led by expert tourist guide Ivančica Šebalj.

This year's tour of the Dubovac Cemetery, which has been a member of ASCE since 2014, was attended by students from the high school of forestry and woodworking in Karlovac. They listened intently to the interesting and instructive stories shared by Ivančica Šebalj.

The students also planted a cypress tree at the cemetery, thereby contributing to environmental sustainability and the fight against climate change.

Planting a 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.

Insignia unveiling and peace tree planting at Kifissia Cemetery

From 6 to 8 September 2023, a series of special events that took place at the Municipal Cemetery of Kifissia, Greece.

About the events

The Municipality of Kifissia (Greece) organised a series of special events that took place from 6 to 8 September 2023 to celebrate the inclusion of the Municipal Cemetery of Kifissia in the European Cemeteries Route and joining the Peace tree project.

One of the main events was the ceremonial inauguration of the ASCE and European Cemeteries Route insignia at the cemetery's entrance. ASCE President, Lidija Pliberšek, and the Mayor of Kifissia, Georgios Thomakos, jointly unveiled the insignias, in the presence of esteemed dignitaries and key representatives of the city and the cemetery. This act symbolically marked the inclusion of the Municipal Cemetery of Kifissia in the European Cemeteries Route and highlighted the town's dedication to preserving the cemetery's rich cultural heritage and historical legacy.

In addition, the Peace Tree Project, which started during the Week of  Discovering European Cemeteries 2023, took another step forward. Following the successful planting of peace trees in Maribor and Budapest, the Municipal Cemetery of Kifissia became the proud home of the third peace tree. The purpose of the project is to plant a "peace tree" in as many different European cemeteries as possible, serving as a reminder of the importance of peace and reconciliation, while spreading the message “Live in peace to rest in peace!”.

Photos from the events:

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.