Did you know that Vienna’s cemeteries hold more than just the deceased? They tell tales of history, reform, and resilience. Today, we are at the Friedhofs-Marterl. It is a monument that stands as a silent witness to Vienna’s evolving relationship with death and remembrance.
Initially, Vienna buried its dead close to churches. These medieval “Freithöfe” were not only burial grounds. They were also public spaces bustling with trade and festivities. The term Freithof meant “fenced place”. It later evolved into “Friedhof”.
However, space became limited. Hygiene concerns grew in the 16th century. This prompted efforts to move cemeteries from the old city to the suburbs. The Plague’s high death toll forced the creation of cemeteries outside the city walls. The Kaiserliche Gottesacker before Schottentor, now part of the University of Vienna campus, was one such example. It was established in 1561.
By the 18th century, burials within Vienna’s city walls were banned. Only church crypts and the Kaisergruft remained exceptions. Emperor Joseph II’s reforms led to the closure of cemeteries within the Linienwall. This area roughly corresponds to today’s Gürtel. Former cemeteries were converted into buildings or green spaces.
To replace the closed cemeteries, five communal cemeteries were established in 1784. These were located outside the Linienwall. They included the Hundsturmer Friedhof and the Matzleinsdorfer Friedhof. There was also the Währinger Friedhof, the Schmelzer Friedhof, and the Sankt Marxer Friedhof.
The Sankt Marxer Friedhof is the only one of these five that still exists. It is now a protected monument. The Jewish Friedhof Rossau was also closed. The Jewish Friedhof Währing was created as a replacement. It is no longer in use.
By the mid-19th century, Vienna’s growing population strained the capacity of communal cemeteries. The city planned a large cemetery far beyond its borders. The Wiener Zentralfriedhof was opened in 1874. At the time, it was the largest cemetery in Europe.
The Friedhofs-Marterl reminds us of these changes. It symbolizes the shift from crowded inner-city burials to expansive suburban cemeteries. The Zentralfriedhof includes a Jewish cemetery and an evangelical cemetery. The main interdenominational section has smaller cemeteries. These are dedicated to various faiths.
In 1922, the Feuerhalle Simmering opened. It was Austria’s first crematorium. Socialist Mayor Jakob Reumann pushed it through. He faced opposition from the Catholic Church and the Christian Social government. The Feuerhalle and its cemetery are near the Zentralfriedhof. They are on the former garden grounds of Schloss Neugebäude.
After World War II, the city council decided to close several smaller municipal cemeteries by 1975. These were cemeteries in Vienna’s suburbs annexed in 1892. Emotional ties to these cemeteries led to a ten-year postponement.
In 1980, a referendum addressed the controversial issue. Residents voted against the closure of several cemeteries. Today, most Viennese cemeteries are managed by Friedhöfe Wien GmbH. This is a subsidiary of Wiener Stadtwerke. It was formed in 2008.
Vienna’s 46 municipal cemeteries contain about 650,000 graves. Including the other nine cemeteries, Vienna has around 778,000 graves. The Friedhofs-Marterl stands as a link to this rich history. It connects the past with the present. It reflects Vienna’s unique approach to death and remembrance.