Zentralfriedhof

One of our best outings in Vienna took to the the Zentralfriedhof, the central cemetery. This place plays a role for Vienna similar to the magnificent seven cemeteries in London but was later. It was opened on All Saint's Day in 1874.

It is located well to the east of the city, about midway between Vienna and Bratislava. The late opening of this enormous cemetery naturally raises the question of how some many people from earlier times ended up here. Wikipedia tells us:

In its early incarnations, the cemetery was unpopular because of its distance from the city centre. This forced authorities to think of ways to make it more attractive: Hence honorary graves (German: Ehrengrab) as a way of attracting tourists were established.

Interred in the Central Cemetery are notables such as Ludwig van Beethoven and Franz Schubert, who were moved to the Central Cemetery from "Währinger Ostfriedhof" in 1888; Johannes Brahms; Antonio Salieri; Johann Strauss II and Arnold Schoenberg. A cenotaph honours Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, who is buried in nearby St. Marx Cemetery.

Yet, even "ordinary" rich people have amazing graves here. Below is one that is further embellished by the constant rain of city soot and smog. It adds a new dimensionality to the sculpture. Instead of pure white stone, the dirt give the people depicted a more human appearance.

Here is a view of the above grave stone from farther back so you can see the context.

This statue give the impression that this woman has just learned of the death rather than being a graveside mourner.

This seems to be a daughter admiring a father.