Many cemeteries have long turned into tourist attractions. Some travelers seek to honor the memory of their idols, the other, walking in the graveyard, trying to scroll through the pages of history. We are presenting you ten most unusual cemeteries that are popular with tourists.
Valley of the Kings, Luxor, Egypt
For 500 years from the XVI to the XI century BC in the valley on the west bank of the Nile were buried rulers of the Ancient Egypt. After many years this place was being visited only by robbers. A few thousand years of oblivion valley of pharaohs’ interested archaeologists, and soon after the huge tomb of Tutankhamun was found, and after that turists regularly come here. Under the scorching sun you are unlikely to be able to bypass all 64 found graves, access to most of the pyramids and caves buried, but most likely, you will be shown only the burial of Ramses IX and Ramses VI. But do not think that you can see the mummies and treasures: the majority finds have long been sent to museums in Cairo.
Pere-Lachaise, Paris, France
This cemetery is called the most visited, not only in Paris but also on Earth. On fine days it is crowded by throngs of fans who want to pay tribute to the memory of theri idol, and tourists who decided to take a look at the famous tomb. It is the last destination point for a list of many prominent figures of art: the writers Marcel Proust, Oscar Wilde, Honore de Balzac, Sarah Bernhardt, actress, dancer Isadora Duncan. Well, if this list is mostly interesting for those who are in love with classical art, then music lovers will also find something interesting. That’s the main reason why most visitors are moving to the grave of the singer and composer, Jim Morrison.
Sainte-Genevieve-des-Bois, France
In France, there is a huge list of buried writers, artists, musicians, who left Russia after the revolution. However, their graves not look at the big tourist Pere Lachaise. Those interested fate of the Russian emigration is better to go to the provincial cemetery of the village of Sainte-Genevieve-des-Bois near the French capital. In addition to therlocal residents, are buried a few thousand Russian immigrants, among them philosopher Sergei Bulgakov, writers and poets Ivan Bunin, Zinaida Gippius, Dmitry Merezhkovsky, Teffi, Alexander Galich, director Andrei Tarkovsky.
Chelyakovitsy, Czech Republic
Lovers of chilling stories about vampires need to visit this tiny mysterious cemetery in the town called Chelyakovitsy. It was discovered only recently in 1994. Scientists have found out: about a thousand years ago the land was devoted to the remains of 13 men, they are all connected by leather straps, and in their hearts stuck aspen stakes in some of the dead cut off arms and heads – all said that the deceased were vampires. At least in the view of local residents. Well, the option to choose whether this sounds to be realistic for you is left to your own choice.
Highgate, London, UK
In the northern part of the British capital is, perhaps, the most beautiful cemetery of this country with the most unusual and eccentric vaults and tombstones, reminiscent of a Victorian era bygone. It was established in 1839 and immediately became something of an elitist club for the dead – a plot of land for this cemetery was high and is available only to very wealthy people. Among the most famous buried in the cemetery of people are the popular philosopher Karl Marx, novelist George Eliot, scientist Michael Faraday and many more.
Sapinta, Romania
A small rural cemetery fell into the UNESCO World Heritage Site because of folk art – an unusual headstones with colorful anecdotes and even funny pictures, in the naive style of telling about the life of the deceased. The graves are decorated with beautiful images and at the beginning you might not even feel like you are in a cemetery. And the most amazing thing is that most of them have some kind of writing on them in a form of a humorous poem, describing that specific person’s life.
Arlington, Virginia, USA
Military Cemetery near Washington in Virginia is the most revered in America. At this point it has lots of heroes buried in it- mostly the victims of the First and Second World Wars and other military conflicts involving U.S. troops, down to the “Desert Storm”. It is also the last resting place for one of the best American Presidents- John F. Kennedy. Endless rows of white tombstones, installed in memory of 60 thousand unknown Americans – perhaps one of the most striking illustrations of the war. Today, the honor of being buried at Arlington cemetery is awarded to only Distinguished military members and their families. Let’s say that being buried here is an honor for every single military member.
Hollywood forever, Hollywood, USA
At arisen in 1899 in the necropolis of Santa Monica Boulevard near the film studio Paramount you will find the buried figures of the American film industry. This cemetery can hardly be called “quiet the last refuge”, because in “Hollywood Forever” there are many stage performances and lots of movies are being shown. This means that the new stars are not only taking their spots in terms of Hollywood attraction, but often violate the peace of the dead. In this place there are the graves of movie director Victor Fleming, singer Joe Dassin, actress Fay Wray and many other popular personalities. By the way, there is already a chosen spot for Britney Spears who announced about the fact that she wants to join the star cemetery.
St. Louis № 1, New Orleans, USA
Perhaps nobody would have heard about this strange place, if it was not shot in 1969 in Dennis Hopper film “Easy Rider”. After the graveyard appeared on the screen, it has begun to present a pilgrimage of tourists. Unlike most cemeteries, this place attracts travelers not for the well-known dead, and unusual tombstones. Due to strong groundwater the graves have gone both under the ground and above it. However, since you are in New Orleans, at the same time you can visit the cemetery of Saint Louis № 2 and 3, where the famous jazz and blues musicians are buried.
