Forty-nine souls rest here honored in death. Welcome to Neustifter Friedhof. This isn’t just any cemetery. It’s a silent testament to Vienna’s rich history. Tucked away in the 18th district it’s a tranquil place. Yet its location is a bit of a mystery.
Neustifter Friedhof originally served the village of Neustift am Walde. That village was part of Währing until 1938. Then a border shift happened. Neustift am Walde became mostly part of Döbling. Neustifter Friedhof however stayed in Währing. It sits between Sommerhaidenweg and Pötzleinsdorfer Höhe. The cemetery’s address is Pötzleinsdorfer Höhe 2.
The story of Neustifter Friedhof began long ago. An earlier cemetery existed near the Krottenbach. Flooding was a major problem. Coffins often floated to the surface. This led to slow decomposition and disease. So a new location was needed.
On November 25 1823 a new cemetery opened on Hutweide. Propst Gaudentius Andreas Dunkler from Klosterneuburg Abbey consecrated it. The first burial was December 28. Salmannsdorf also used this cemetery. Except during outbreaks of disease. Then they used a Cholera cemetery.
Eventually Neustifter Friedhof became overcrowded. So a new larger cemetery was built nearby. It opened September 1 1880. This is the Neustifter Friedhof you see today. Famous people are buried here. Professor Georg Kurzbauer and writer Otto Leonhard Friedmann for example.
The original cemetery was almost abandoned. Now there’s just a memorial. The current Neustifter Friedhof however thrives. It has around 15 000 graves and spans 150 000 square meters. It’s a beautiful peaceful place. A silent tribute to the lives once lived. A journey through time and remembrance. A piece of Vienna’s past and present.