As Halloween is approaching, you might want to visit a graveyard to get into the proper spooky feeling for the holiday. There are loads of glamorous, interesting graveyards to visit for the adventurous all over the world. Metro has put together a guide of the ones worth a visit.
Highgate Cemetery
London, England
Who is down there?
Karl Marx, George Elliot, Alexander Litvinenko (a Russian spy killed by poison), Ralph Miliband (father of British politicians David and Ed Miliband)
What’s the scene?
Leafy and artfully overgrown, Highgate cemetery has a romantic atmosphere, with trees giving dappled light on pre-Raphelite headstones, statues of napping nymphs and sculptures of snoozing faithful dogs. A small charge is made for access to this beautiful historic park, and regular tours point out significant graves including that of its most famous resident, philosopher Karl Marx.
Pere Lachaise Cemetary
Paris, France
Who is down there?
Jim Morrison, Oscar Wilde, Honore de Balzac, Maria Callas, Frederic Chopin, Max Ernst, Edith Piaf, Marcel Proust
What’s the scene?
Most people come to the white, ornate sculptures of Pere Lachaise to pay their respects to the iconic artists that rest here from Oscar Wilde, to Jim Morrison, whose grave is littered with whiskey bottles left by fans of the Doors frontman. The largest graveyard in Paris, it is rumoured to be the world’s most visited cemetery.
Forrest Lawn Memorial Park
Glendale, Los Angeles
Who is down there?
Michael Jackson, Humphrey Bogart, Nat King Cole, Walt Disney, Errol Flynn, Jean Harlow, Elizabeth Taylor
What’s the scene?
This vast, landscaped memorial park is home to some of Hollywood’s greatest stars. Michael Jackson is buried alongside other stars including Clark Gable, Jean Harlow and Carole Lombard in the Great Mausoleum, where visitors are greeted by a reproduction of Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper at the entrance. It is adorned by tributes delivered by longtime friends of the pop star.
La Recoleta Cemetery
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Who is down there?
Eva Peron, Raúl Alfonsín, several Argentinian presidents
What’s the scene?
Visitors to this grand necropolis are met at the entrance with imposingly tall Greek columns, which give a taste for the impressive graveyard within. This Buenos Aires cemetery is like a mini city dedicated to its elite with streets lined with ornate marble statues, crypts and tombs within the high walls. English-speaking tours are available on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Novodevichy Cemetery
Moscow, Russia
Who is down there?
Nadezhda Alliluyeva-Stalin, Anton Chekhov, Raisa Gorbachev, Nikita Khrushchev, Peter Kropotkin, Vyacheslav Molotov, Anton Chekhov
What’s the scene?
Novochedny is home to a veritable Who’s Who of Russian arts and politics, with famous names buried in suitably grand tombs and graves next to the UNESCO-listed Novodevichy Convent. Highlights include Khrushchev’s bust, complete with black and white blocks to symbolize his good and bad sides, and a huge, rippling Russian flag statue that draws visitors to the grave of jovial ex-president Boris Yeltsin. Get a map of the place which describes more than 200 of the graves.
www.sacred-destinations.com/russia/moscow-novodevichy-convent.htm
