If you’re out for some sightseeing out of the ordinary, we can warmly recommend Assistens Cemetery. Does it sound weird to visit a cemetery during your vacation? We promise you won’t be the only one. Read why below.
In Danish, it’s called Assistens Kirkegård. The burial site is located in Nørrebro district and was inaugurated in 1760. At first, it was a burial site for the poor, but in the first half of the 19th century something happened: many famous persons from this period was buried here. Or, how about Hans Christian Andersen and Søren Kierkegaard?
The name Assistens Kirkegård (assistance cemetery) is actually a term which refers to cemeteries that used to be laid out in extent to existing burial sites, because more space was needed. Assistens Cemetery has always been a tourist attraction. Already in 1805 a commission was settled, that prohibited the consumption of food and drink. It also issued instructions that music or cheerful behaviour should not be allowed. Once, there was a plan to introduce admission fees to reduce the number of visitors, but this never happened. Today, it’s still a place that many people chose to visit during their visit to Copenhagen, not only for the famous graves but also for the gigantic green space that the cemetery actually holds. This cemetery is harmonic, peaceful and absolutely gorgeous.
