Vienna's Central Cemetery (or Zentralfriedhof) is an unlikely tourist attraction, especially as it lies several kilometres outside the Inner Stadt. But this vast, 150-year-old final resting-place for Vienna's citizens is more than just a cemetery – home to the finest Art Nouveau church in the city, the Church of St Charles Borromeo, it is where the legendary composers of Vienna, the City of Music, are buried. And most of all, it's the butt of that notoriously dry Viennese humour. 'Catching the 71' is a Viennese euphemism for dying, making reference to the tram route that winds its way to the second biggest graveyard in Europe.
In the late 19th century, city leaders were worried about where to bury the deceased of a rapidly growing capital city. It was decided that large out-of-town site was needed, and this ground-breaking burial ground opened in 1874. Rather than being just for the dominant religious group in Vienna (Roman Catholics), plots were set aside for Protestant and Orthodox Christians, as well as Muslims and Jews.
The Central Cemetery covers around 200 hectares and contains the remains of more than 3 million people. Maps are available at the entrance, leading you to notable graves. Most visitors head to the Graves of Honour section where, in addition to former Prime Ministers and other national heroes, the graves of some of Vienna’s most famous inhabitants can be viewed. Marvel at the scale of Beethoven’s tombstone, admire the intricate carvings around Schubert’s grave – the Central Cemetery is a who’s who of Austrian classical music and is home to memorials to Schoenberg, Johann Strauss and Johannes Brahms, and even has a monument dedicated to Mozart, who is buried in the St Marx Cemetery. Take your time to wander round and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere here.
The Central Cemetery is located southeast of central Vienna. Public transport serves the cemetery, or you can drive here in about 20 minutes. Entrance is free and the cemetery is open every day.
