Founded in 1810 by Bernardine monks, the cemetery is perhaps the most attractive and romantic cemetery in Vilnius. Located over a little less than four hectares on a rolling hill running down to the Vilnia river, the cemetery fell into disrepair soon after WWII before being finally shut in 1970. Independence has seen it flourish with the assistance of the Lithuanian and Polish governments, although much work remains to be done. Of particular interest are the columbaria, once used for holding urns full of ashes and now slowly crumbling away. Among the eminent university professors, scientists and painters buried here find a few surprises including Geleda Dzerzhinskaja (1849-1896), whose claim to fame was giving birth to the founder of the forerunner of the KGB, Felix Dzerzhinsky (Feliksas Dzeržinskis).

Bernardine Cemetery comments

• 10
  Sep
  2009
  Irene McKay - Hong Kong, Hong Kong
  I visited Antakalnis Cemetery on 31st July 2009. I was pleased to see every one of the border guard graves had been adorned with flowers on the anniversary of their murder. I also thought the cemetry gave a very interesting insight into the variety of foreign powers that had occupied Lithuania - French graves, Polish Graves, Soviet graves. I would also recommend this sight due to the wonderful headstones found here - some were beautifully carved pieces of wood; others were interesting and unusual stone or marble headstones like the weeping woman headstone, the man with the mask headstone and the reclining woman headstone.