While cemeteries are the sites of spooky lore in many countries, this is not so much the case in the ever so secular Denmark.
Many people might prefer to hang out in parks, but the Danes find it becoming to convert their cemeteries into areas for socializing, a rather pragmatic use of space we might add.
“It is certainly one of the most beautiful graveyards in Europe. Leafy trees, dark paths, bright open f
lowery expanses, temples shaded by poplars, marble tombs overhung by weeping willows, and urns or crosses wrapped in swathes of roses, fragrance and bird song, all transform this place of death into a little paradise,” wrote the Swedish poet Karl August Nicander two centuries ago, describing his visit to Assistens Cemetery in Copenhagen.
Hanging out at the burial site has become a tradition over the centuries. Nowadays, you’ll see fitness enthusiasts jogging amid the cherry blossom trees, millennials relaxing at the lawn, families ta
king a stroll along the endless passageways and, of course, tourists walking through the gardens searching for the most noteworthy graves.
Concerts, theatre shows and other cultural events take place throughout the year, so make sure to keep an eye out on the Assistens Cemetery official website.
