Zentralfriedhof, Vienna

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This is Austria's largest graveyard and it contains about two and a half million graves. It was opened in 1874 and is on the cities southern outskirts. The central section contains the graves of artists, composers, writers, architects and local politicians. The composers lie together in the Musiker section.
A memorial to Mozart in the Central Cemetery. Mozart was buried in an unmarked grave in the St Marx graveyard on Leberstrasse. He was buried during a two year period when re-useable coffins were used and people were buried in mass graves so there is no personal grave.
Schubert admired Beethoven very much. He helped carry Beethoven's coffin during his funeral, within a year he himself was dead. I love his "Wintereisse" the music is hauntingly beautiful.
It is also a great place to park and then take the tram into the centre of Vienna.

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There is a small section of the zentralfriedhof that is the final resting place of some of the most famous classical composers. Here you will find the graves of Beethovan, Strauss, Brahms, and Schubert. There is also a small memorial to Mozart, who is buried in St. Matthew's Church. The Composers' Corner is located on the left-hand side of the main pathway through the cemetery...I believe it's around section 32.
Please be sensitive to the fact that this is a cemetery that is still being used by the Viennese today. Don't be an obnoxious tourist.

Most people visit the cemetery to see the famous graves, but I also visit for the fantastic church there. Recently restored it is certainly worth a visit if you like Art Deco architecture. It`s all pink inside with loads of splendid detailing. Don`t forget that there is a lift which can take you to the crypt and up to the gallery!

Johann Strauss II (1825-1899) was the most popular conductor and composer of dance music of his time. He was the king of the waltz and also wrote many polkas. He was a real ladies man and married 3 times. He died of pneumonia.

Franz Schubert (1797-1828) lived his entire life in Vienna. He was known as one of the greatest melodists of all time. He contracted syphilis and typhus which led to failing health and death at a young age.

Ludwig von Beethoven (1770-1827), one of the greatest composers in history, is buried at Zentralfriedhof near other famous musicians.

Beethoven was born in Bonn, Germany, and moved to Vienna permanently in 1792. He suffered hearing loss which ended his performing career later in his life but amazingly was still able to compose.

Zentralfriedhof is Austria's largest cemetary. It contains over 2 1/2 million graves, with some plots more than 6 deep. It opened in 1874 on the outskirts of Vienna.

The central part of the cemetary is where most of the famous Viennese are buried, including Dr. Karl Renner, first President of Austria after WWII, Theophil Hansen, architect, and some important musicians (see my other tips).

Hours are 8 AM - 5 PM November through February, 7 AM - 7 PM May through August, and 7 AM - 6 PM the rest of the year. The cemetary is open daily.

....including tombstones. I did not realise, nor remember perhaps, that this was a "Cemetary" or "Graveyard" and simply remembered it as a bunch of Bustiers, and the lovely shrowd to Strauss (the photo on the left) as Monuments which had been built in their honour! Ok, so they are, but I didn't realise that they were headstones as I photographed them! Its ok of course to picture them, but sometimes I can get creeped out by that!! Ok, so it still is wonderful, but in a different light that I have remembered it. I did reflect upon the knowledge I did have of the Composers being commemerated, and my boyfriend (now husband) at the time filled me in on the gaps I had, and educated me some bit on the history. So I came awqay inspired, if not in the remembered knowledge of the tombs.

The gardens themselves are lovely, especially if you hit them on a sunny day. There is an abundance of colours to be seen in the collection of flowers. You can st here of course also for a while, or walk about as you choose.

This is open to the public, and there is no charge.

I've always wanted to visit the famous gravesite of the greatest composers in history. Once there, I could not contain myself. I stayed and just walked around the place for hours reflecting on the lives and music of the great composers.

We went to the Zentralfriedhof, Vienna's largest cemetery, to visit the graves of famous composers. We found them alright, but we were a little disappointed. Johannes Brahms, Franz Schubert, Ludwig van Beethoven, Arnold Schoenberg, both Johann Strausses, Hugo Wolf, and Mahler as well as many other famous people are buried there. What we weren't expecting was that these composers had obviously been moved from their original places, since they were all grouped together. A bit of a bummer since I'm not really into contrivances, but whatever, now I can say I've been to Beethoven's grave.
There is also a beautiful chapel at the cemetery that has been recently renovated.