After visiting the cemetery on All Saints Day I wanted to go back and walk around during the day. On Monday (the 3rd) my host parents and I did just that so I could see more of the cemetery and take some pictures.
Here are some pictures from the day and some information about the Cemetery.
Map of the cemetery.
Since this sign was made the cemetery has grown quite a bit. The brown patch of land on the left hand side of the picture is now half filled with graves. The graveyard is constantly expanding.
During the time of Empress Maria Teresa, she forbid the burial of the deceased within the city walls so a new area was set aside, this area became the foundation of today's city cemetery. For over a century the cemetery was like any other: dark and mysterious.
In 1905 Herman Haller, the young superintendant of the city cemetery, proposed the idea of having a garden-shaped cemetery to the city fathers. The idea was considered ridiculous but it was given consent. Burial-places were moved in order to create wide, tree-lined pathways. Haller's idea was to "'hide' luxurious, conspicuous tombs in order to alleviate the impression they give." He wished to "create a pleasant place, which would provide a feeling of serenity and nostalgia." Over 7,000 arborvitae and numerous, birches, maple trees, ash-trees, red beeches, box shrubs, magnolias were planted to create "the green gateway to paradise."
Haller applied a French style of landscaping and transformed the cemetery into a unique park containing many different plant species.
The cemetery was beautifully laid out and it was nice to walk throughout on such a wonderful autumn day. The flower arrangements from All Saints Day were still upon the graves so it added to the grandeur of the garden-cemetery.
Graves lining one of the main paths.
The cemetery reminded me of a maze with its high hedges and winding paths.
On the right are empty graves. This cemetery is very beautiful it is a desirable place to be buried. Many people and families grave shop to secure a good location.
Costs of burial vary more depending on the location of the spot in the cemetery. The older the part of the cemetery the more expensive it becomes.
The company Parkovi maintains the city cemetery. Allot of work goes into keeping it in such a pristine state. Their goal is to "preserve the horticultural idea of the creator of the cemetery Herman Haller." People pay a sort of tax for the maintenance of the cemetery. It takes allot of time and manpower to maintain the cemetery as there are numerous plants over an extensive area. They do a wonderful job maintaining it.
Once the candles have burned out family members come and remove them. There are large bins throughout the park where they can be disposed. Once the flowers have died they will also be thrown out.
In the past there was a large problem with people breaking into the cemetery after hours (the gates are closed at 9:00) and stealing flower arrangements to take home. Nowadays there are video cameras throughout the park to prevent this from happening.
1 comment:
Bonjour, j'ai vu une photo d'une pierre tombale au cimetière de Varazdin sur votre blog de
Georges THINAULT et de sa famille .Il se trouve que ces personne sont de ma famille .En fait je recherche de la famille de Marianne VRACUN. Je vous remercie par avance de l'aide que vous voudriez m'apporter . Salutations. Joseph THINAULT. adresse email :jthinault@wanadoo.fr
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