Mirogoj, Zagreb

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Most of the Croats are catholics and therefore the funeral procesion is in according to the traditional catholic code, even if one was atheist or agnostic in own beliefs. The funeral starts at the Mortuary where family and friend pay respect to the mortals. The funeral procesion could perfectly well indicate to which religion the mortal belonged. Croats have family tombs but not all of them are at Mirogoy, there are several other graveyards in Zagreb. It is matter of social prestige to have tomb at the Mirogoj and therefore certain newcomers will risk alot of money to buy resting place right here.
Croats highly respect their mortals, visitings graves several times during a year and inevitably for the memorial day. Thats the time of a year where Mirogoj looks fairytale. alike.

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The Main Cemetery of Zagreb, a unique composition of impressive arcade architecture, artistically shaped graves and park-like greenery, is among the most beautiful resting places in Europe.
Mirogoj is huge complex divided in several sections and memorial grave-yards. Here you can see burried, side by side, catholics, ortodox, jewish and muslims. Don't miss walking along arcades where the tombs could tell you stories from the history of the town and its inhabitants.
When visiting Zagreb, it is a must see.

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And visiting Mirogoj is quite an experience - awe inspiring, a little bit amusing, and saddening too.
First off I was so impressed with the beauty of the ivy covered walls. And all the statuary on the older graves. These graves are out to impress. The 'deads' have all their achievements up there on their headstones. Professor of this, doctor of that, won this prize and ... oh well it went on and on. I am not used to bombast on a tombstone, I am more used to - Dearly loved and sadly missed - so I almost got the giggles.
Then we passed Tujman's grave. Which is a rather chilling, tilting sheet of dark green marble.
And then we were in the new part of the cemetery - and all the new graves. So many of them. There were a pair of aged parents at the water tip filling a vase for the flowers for their son's grave. And tears came into my eyes.

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Mirogoj is a really nice and beautiful cemetery located to the North of the town. The arcade on the cemetery outside is really attractive and is covered in a series of vine covered cupolas. There are also some really well crafted tombs and graves dotted around tree-lined avenues in what is one of if not the most beautiful cemetery in Europe.

To get here it is about a 10-15min bus ride or a 30min walk. The bus (No. 106) leaves from outside the cathedral. To walk, head up Kaptol Street away from the cathedral until the end. You should see a convience store on the corner and a tram stop to the right of that. Walk over the tramstop and up the sloping road that leaves off the main road. After about 10mins up here you should see the cemetery off a road on your right - identifiable by a string of cupolas.

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This cemetery must be one of the most beautiful I have ever seen. Along the road there is a gallery of graves with statues. Then behind the church you will find the grave of Franjo Tudman, the first Croatian president.

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This cemetery is very interesting. Beside of the beautiful architecture and few famous that berried here I found it really interesting that Christians (Catholic, Orthodox etc) , Jews and Muslim are all berried here sometimes just next to each other. If only they could be that close when alive.

Even if most people would not have going to a cemetary as a must see, Zagreb's Mirogoj Cemetery has got to be an exception. It would have to be one of the most impressive cemeterys in Europe if not the world. Apart from many of Croatia's most famous people being buried here it's architecture, stonework and sculptures alone was enough for me to be impressed.

Mirogoj, the central Zagreb cemetery, situated on the slopes of Medvednica, is one of the most beautiful cemeteries in Europe. Well-known architect Herman Bolle designed the shape of the cemetery, applying a monumental composition of arcades, pavilions and domes, intermingled with rich vegetation, and adding a gallery of sculptures by Croatian sculptors.