One of the many things that Croatia excels at is in the location and tendering of its final resting places for its departed souls. A cursory visit to any coastal cemetery will inevitably lead you to some of the most pieces of real estate on the coast, accompanied by some of the most breathtaking views. It is a fitting tribute to the recently departed.
The same is true in continental Croatia, and there are some truly outstanding cemeteries which are not only homes to the dead souls, but also peaceful escapes for reflection for locals, and also tourists. Of these, arguably the most impressive is the one to be found in Varazdin, a delightfully ordered cemetery in a sea of greenery which has rightfully made it among the top tourist attractions in the town.
Here is a brief overview from above.
The cemetery, located at the edge of the town, close to the road for Slovenia (see map at the bottom), dates back to 1773, but it really came into its own at the beginning of the 20th century, with the arrival of one Herman Haller in 1905, who took it upon himself to begin to arrange the cemetery into something a little more aesthetically pleasing.
He started by arranging about 7,000 cypress, maple, ash, red beech, boxes, magnolia and birch. Clipping Thuja in geometrical bodies made the cemetery more similar to the French fleet. One of the most valuable monuments in the Varazdin cemetery is the ‘Angel of Death’, the work of Sculptor Robert Franges Mihanovic, which symbolically shows the farewell of the living with the dead. Among other attractions, visitors should see the monument to Vatroslav Jagic, decorated with fresh flowers daily.
Today Varazdin Cemetery is certainly moving with the times. It is perhaps the only cemetery in the country with its own dedicated application for both Apple and Android, which is free to download.
The cemetery of course receives its regular local visitors who come to remember their loved ones, but there are special times of year which create their own atmosphere, when lighted candles really bring the cemetery to life. Nowhere is this more true than on All Souls Day at the beginning of November – check out the video below for an overview.
The cemetery is open every day:
From December to February, the opening hours are 7.00 a.m. to 7 p.m.
During March, April and October, the opening hours are 7.00 a.m. to 8 p.m.
From May to September, the opening hours are 7.00 to 9 p.m.
