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Austria

Lower Austria

Vienna Woods

Old Jewish Cemetery (Central Cemetery)

Discover
Places to see

Austria

Lower Austria

Vienna Woods

Old Jewish Cemetery (Central Cemetery)

Old Jewish Cemetery (Central Cemetery)

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    Best Hikes to Old Jewish Cemetery (Central Cemetery)

    4.8

    (11)

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    1. Heroes' Square – Hofburg Palace loop from Stephansplatz

    22.0km

    05:39

    100m

    Expert hike. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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    Expert

    Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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    Intermediate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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    Tips

    April 8, 2023

    The area covers an area of over 250,000 m2. The Israeli religious community has taken over the maintenance of the cemetery.

    The impressive excursion into another world begins right at the cemetery gate number 1. You can move on the main paths or use the paths off the beaten track, in any case you should bring a lot of time. Various styles are represented in the countless graves, from the simplest graves to monumental family crypts. Some of the symbols indicate the profession of the deceased, e.g. the "blessing hands" of a man from the clergy. Common to all graves are the deeply touching grave inscriptions! Terrible, so many terrible fates... There are hardly any descendants, who could look after the graves. Many died in concentration camps or were able to escape just in time. The few visitors to the old Jewish cemetery place small gray stones on the grave instead of flowers, an old Jewish custom.

    It is just as touching and somehow comforting to see how nature reclaims the graves, how overgrown they are, many gravestones have fallen over. The conservation association is trying to limit the overgrowth. And amidst all that past suffering, a herd of deer, rabbits, and other animals thrive and present a peaceful picture.

    Since it is forbidden in Judaism to change or relocate burial sites or even to leave them open, this area will probably remain in place for as long as possible. Burials hardly ever take place here anymore, but there is also a new Jewish cemetery at the central cemetery.

    Translated by Google •

      May 6, 2023

      The old Jewish cemetery is probably the most beautiful part of the entire central cemetery. Nature and the ravages of time do not just gnaw at the bones here, but this rather underlines the quiet and morbid charm of the tranquil resting place

      Translated by Google •

        May 18, 2024

        In the Jewish faith, cemeteries are real "resting places for eternity" - quite unlike what is usual in Germany (and many other countries), for example, where graves are only "bought" for a limited period of time, say 20 years, and then fall into disrepair.

        Incidentally, men are asked to wear a head covering when entering a Jewish cemetery - provided it is open to the public - as a sign of respect for our "older brothers in the faith" (quote from Pope John Paul II).

        Translated by Google •

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          Elevation 170 m

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          Sunday 28 September

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          Location: Vienna Woods, Lower Austria, Austria

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