Zürich’s largest cemetery, Sihlfeld Friedhof, is also the largest green space in the city. Like some European cities (I’m thinking in Italy), where space is at a premium, you rent a burial plot for a loved one for 25 years. After that time, the space is turned over to someone else.
However, I think that some of the older spots are grandfathered in. Johanna Spyri, the author of Heidi, is still buried there, along with other famous Swiss. When your time is up, if your gravestone is considered interesting enough, it gets moved to an area like this. The markers are arranged diagonally, as an art installation.
Also in the cemetery are Zürich’s oldest crematoriums. The Altes Krematorium has it’s own bus stop. It is now longer used for its original purpose, but for funeral services and concerts.
Unfortunately, the Trauerautomat which I read about on Atlas Obscura, is no longer there.
A future blog post may include an art installation in the large building at the entrance of the cemetery – the Cemetery Forum – in conjunction with the Flour Museum.
More photos at glampinginswitzerland’s Instagram.
Glamping in Switzerland 