In the late 18th century, a movement to create rural cemeteries emerged in Europe, soon spreading overseas. Rooted in the idea that cemeteries could be places for rest and quiet enjoyment of nature, this movement culminated in the development of large-scale cemeteries such as Mount Auburn Cemetery in Massachusetts, the first of its kind in the United States.
Before this movement, European and American cemeteries were typically located on the grounds of urban churches and were often overcrowded and unsanitary. But the rural cemetery movement sought to change this, transforming cemeteries into peaceful places where people could honor the dead while simultaneously enjoying the beauty of life.
These cemeteries, rooted in images of Greek Arcadia, long associated with a pastoral paradise, were conceived as solitary places for meditation, not just mourning. The cemeteries that emerged from this movement became the precursors of modern public parks and often served as places for relaxation and gatherings in the 19th century.
However, by the end of that century, death had become an even more taboo topic due to factors such as the rise of the funeral industry, the need to maintain an impeccable reputation during World War I, and other factors. Cemeteries, originally intended for rest, soon became associated more with ghosts and scary stories.
Fast forward to today, and rural cemeteries are certainly no longer as popular for gatherings with friends as they were when they were first created—at least for some people. Others, however, still find great joy and peace in the quiet, natural, and serene beauty of cemeteries… like the editors of Mental Floss. Read about some of our favorite cemeteries below.
Cadaqués Cemetery (Cadaqués Cemetery), Spain
Author: Eden Gordon
Once, while backpacking through Spain, I took a day trip to the Salvador Dalí House-Museum in Cadaqués, Catalonia. Near the museum was a seaside cemetery, which I decided to visit.
Opened in 1893, the Cadaqués Cemetery is located near the Sant Baldiri Hermitage and overlooks the Mediterranean Sea. I will never forget the peace that reigned there. It may not be the most luxurious cemetery in the world, but it possessed a stunning, windswept beauty, with its stone cemetery architecture and white tombstones glistening in the summer sun. The cemetery also contains a number of unique modernist funerary sculptures, including a work by the Catalan sculptor Josep Llimona i Bruguera, giving it an artistic and individual character.
This place paired perfectly with a visit to the bustling Dalí Museum, with its wild, surreal art and throngs of tourists. I can imagine Dalí himself wandering there, seeking inspiration for his work, on quiet, windy summer days. This cemetery is small and a bit off the beaten path, but beautifully maintained, offering views of the rocky cliff and the sapphire waters beyond, and is well worth a visit if you're on the Spanish coast and have a few extra hours to wander and reflect.
Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, New York
Author: Eden Gordon
Green-Wood Cemetery has to be the most peaceful place in New York City. I know this firsthand, having spent a lot of time searching for green, quiet corners of the Big Apple. But this historic cemetery probably surpassed all expectations as the most truly tranquil place I've found, at least in the heart of the metropolis.
Green-Wood Cemetery, founded in 1838, was one of the oldest rural cemeteries in America. Today, it contains approximately 600,000 graves, including those of Jean-Michel Basquiat, Leonard Bernstein, and other prominent figures. The cemetery is beautifully maintained, boasts stunning landscaping, and is a world-renowned Grade III arboretum, home to a diverse array of wildlife. Here, you'll see a variety of birds, wildflowers, geese, and other animals strolling past stunning sculptures, and experience a peace and tranquility that's hard to find in the city.
From the parrot nests crowing at the entrance gates to several picturesque ponds, Green-Wood Cemetery is a must-see on any Brooklyn itinerary. The cemetery also regularly hosts events, from concerts and tours to a special Day of the Dead celebration and much more. Complement your visit with a visit to the nearby Greenhouse—a recently restored historic greenhouse located near the main entrance—where you can purchase souvenirs, artwork, and learn more about the cemetery's history. You can also use the clean restrooms and refill your water bottle—a true escape on a hot New York City summer day.
La Recoleta Cemetery, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Author: Nitya Rao
My first visit to the famous La Recoleta cemetery in Buenos Aires was marked by the feeling that I was halfway to the grave myself.
After a 15-hour journey with a high fever, a sore throat, and a perpetually rainy forecast, I was nonetheless determined to make the pilgrimage to Eva Perón's final resting place. The moment I entered this labyrinth, turning down the first of many quiet, palm-lined paths, I realized I was in for much more than just learning about the former First Lady.
Founded in 1822 as Buenos Aires' first public cemetery, La Recoleta was built on the site of a former garden belonging to the Recollect monks. By the end of the 19th century, it had transformed from a modest burial ground into a miniature metropolis housing the souls of Argentina's wealthiest families, presidents, Nobel laureates, and military leaders. Today, it boasts ornate statues, Gothic chapels, and the tombs of thousands, preserving traces of more than two centuries of Argentine history.
Every tomb—from the cracked marble mausoleums to the elegant granite Perón family crypt, adorned with flowers—was strewn with glittering raindrops. Whether this was a metaphor for the countless tears shed by grieving families over the years, or simply a reflection of the autumn weather on the other side of the equator, the somber atmosphere made exploring this 14-acre labyrinth of the dead all the more atmospheric.
Perón's final resting place wasn't always so final. After the military coup that overthrew President Juan Perón in 1955, her body disappeared for nearly 20 years before returning to the family mausoleum. Today, she rests in a fortified crypt deep underground.
Another monument I stumbled upon was the tomb of Rufina Cambacérès, one of the most impressive in this cemetery. Her sumptuous Art Nouveau tomb includes a life-size statue of Cambacérès holding the mausoleum door open; this is believed to commemorate the family's belief that she was buried alive.
As I uncovered their stories, I realized that the concept of eternal peace is more of a privilege than something to be taken for granted.
Greyfriars Kirkyard, Edinburgh, Scotland
Author: Logan DeLoye
Despite the abundance of tombstones, mausoleums, memorial walls and architectural monuments dedicated to the deceased, Greyfriars Cemetery in Edinburgh, Scotland, feels somehow surprisingly alive.
Perhaps it's that breeze that sends shivers down your spine as soon as you step onto the grounds, or perhaps it's the stones shrouded in darkness or the rusty bars on the graves that add to the eerie atmosphere.
I visited this historic cemetery during a two-month trip to Europe, stumbling upon it completely by chance while shopping for a sweater, completely unprepared for the chill of a late September evening in Scots country.
Directly opposite Greyfriars Bobby Pub (a historic establishment with a memorial to the legendary golden-nosed Skye Terrier), you're greeted by rolling green hills covered with elaborate headstones honoring the dead. From this description alone, you might expect a typical cemetery, but that's not the case at all.
As you stroll among these rows of monuments, with medieval fortresses peeking out from behind high stone walls, you quickly realize that many of these headstones hold stories. Names, dates, wills, and intricate carvings adorn the tombstones, some so captivating that they inspired J.K. Rowling during her early years in Edinburgh, where she wrote much of the book series. about Harry Potter .
This cemetery has given rise to the names of characters such as Tom Riddle and Minerva McGonagall, as well as Moody and Scrimgeour, all taken from the tombstones and their stories in Greyfriars Cemetery.
Many travel from far and wide to visit these graves; others seek ghostly lore, as the cemeteries are believed to be haunted (particularly Sir George Mackenzie's Black Mausoleum). I certainly wasn't looking for the thrill of supposed paranormal activity. Instead, a walk through the cemetery, like many such walks, became a stark reminder of life.
Reading the stories of those who passed away, in the case of Greyfriars Cemetery, centuries before us, reminds us that one day we will all become names on gravestones. It is an invitation to learn from the past and enjoy the joys of life before we become mere memories etched in stone.
Willow Cemetery, Franconia, New Hampshire
Author: Logan DeLoye
As someone who grew up in the Midwest, I've always been fascinated by the dates on headstones in Northeast cemeteries. Because this region was the birthplace of America's first settlements, the dates engraved on headstones transport you back to the very beginning of American history, to 1776, and sometimes even earlier.
In Franconia, New Hampshire, the historic Franconia Inn, a gathering place for the town since the 1770s, welcomes guests with several rooms, a restaurant, and spacious grounds for horseback riding, swimming, tennis, and biking. Just across the street is Willow Cemetery, home to tombstones commemorating the lives of those who passed away centuries ago.
The forest-surrounded cemetery is closed to new burials, but visitors are allowed to stroll among the graves and learn about the families who once thrived here or, in many cases, endured war, disease, and uncertainty to simply survive in Franconia in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Unlike many cemeteries, the graves here are modest. The headstones are mostly roughly the same size, with rounded tops and inscriptions dedicated to the deceased. Some plots are dedicated to an individual, others are family plots, listing the names and ages of the deceased, as well as their birth and death dates.
Many of the graves in this cemetery belong to children, very young children, probably because the medical advances we have today did not exist when these families lived in Franconia and the state was just beginning to be built.
The grave of Luke Brooks, the first person to see the Old Man of the Mountain, is located in Willow Cemetery, along with other notable headstones such as that of George Maxwell Jr., which reads "Killed by Samuel Mills" in reference to his 1868 hanging, and that of the Whitney siblings.
Staying at the Franconia Inn, driving up Cannon Mountain, or enjoying breakfast at nearby Polly's Pancake House are all fun activities, but it's also worth exploring and appreciating the area's history with a visit to Willow Cemetery.