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All Poland Zakopane Old Zakopane Cemetery

Old Zakopane Cemetery

Polish luminaries and masterful folk art find sanctuary in this unique cemetery.

Zakopane, Poland

Added By
Adam Kincaid
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Old Zakopane Cemetery   AdamTKincaid / Atlas Obscura User
Old Zakopane Cemetery   AdamTKincaid / Atlas Obscura User
Old Zakopane Cemetery   AdamTKincaid / Atlas Obscura User
Old Zakopane Cemetery   AdamTKincaid / Atlas Obscura User
Old Zakopane Cemetery   AdamTKincaid / Atlas Obscura User
Old Zakopane Cemetery   AdamTKincaid / Atlas Obscura User
Old Zakopane Cemetery   AdamTKincaid / Atlas Obscura User
Old Zakopane Cemetery   AdamTKincaid / Atlas Obscura User
Old Zakopane Cemetery   AdamTKincaid / Atlas Obscura User
Old Zakopane Cemetery   AdamTKincaid / Atlas Obscura User
Old Zakopane Cemetery   AdamTKincaid / Atlas Obscura User
Old Zakopane Cemetery   AdamTKincaid / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Among European and Western culture, Polish cemeteries are unique. In a remarkable display of remembrance, they are often lavishly covered in flowers, pictures, mementos and candles, particularly around Roman Catholic holidays and especially on All Saints' Day. Strangers will often look after graves of non-family members; it’s rare to see an uncared-for or unclean tombstone.

The Polish word “zakopane” translates into English as "buried," so it should be no surprise that one particularly notable Polish burial ground can be found in the popular ski resort town of the same name.

The Old Zakopane Cemetery (as it is commonly known), or Pęksowy Brzyzek (its actual name, meaning roughly "Pęksa's Brook"), sits behind the old wooden Church of Our Lady of Częstochowa. The hallowed grounds contain over 500 grave sites. Some of Poland’s most celebrated denizens—particularly those hailing from the surrounding Podhale region in the Tatry mountains—can be found among those interred in the cemetery. Among the honored dead are Polish war heroes and Nazi resistance fighters, who lie side-by-side with authors, architects, mountain climbers, poets, musicians, artists, scientists, and engineers.

What really stands out are the stylistic representations of the grave markers themselves. In a stark contrast to traditional cemetery plots, the burial sites in the Old Zakopane Cemetery are adorned with memorials carved from raw rock and metal, or built in the form of tall wooden totems and sculptures. These monuments to the departed are true pieces of art in their own right, incorporating gnarly branches and moss-covered boulders, sudden visionary protrusions festooned with names and dates. The effect is a dreamy, magical, fairytale environment, with the impression that the entire ensemble is growing organically from the ground.

Related Tags

Cemeteries Sculptures Monuments Memorials World War Ii History Funeral Art Military

Know Before You Go

Very easy to get to and about a 5 minute walk from the main city center. Open from dawn to dusk. Expect to pay around 2zł, most days, for entrance to this magical graveyard and feel free to bring a token, candle, flower, or any kind of remembrance to place on the graves of the deceased.

Community Contributors

Added By

AdamTKincaid

Edited By

RHyzer, lostlara, michjarz1

  • RHyzer
  • lostlara
  • michjarz1

Published

November 10, 2016

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Sources
  • http://www.zakopane-online.eu/82,Old_Graveyard_-_Must_on_Tour_of.htm
  • http://blogs.transparent.com/polish/polish-death-and-burial-customs/
  • http://culture.polishsite.us/articles/art446fr.htm
  • http://www.poloniamusic.com/Zakopane_Cemetery.html
Old Zakopane Cemetery
Powstańców Śląskich
Zakopane, 34-505
Poland
49.296874, 19.947044
Visit Website
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