Krakow Cemeteries

Cemeteries hold an important place in Polish culture, in large part due to the country's strong Roman Catholic roots and perhaps to a lesser degree owing to the people's proclivous leanings towards that which has come to pass. Whatever the case, visitors will find a very special atmosphere when entering a Polish cemetery. Visiting the graves of the departed is an important ritual in Polish culture, so important that everyone in the country gets an off day on November 1st (All Saints' Day) to do just that. However, most families visit the cemetery with much greater frequency, making sure that the graves are clean and well-kept, placing fresh flowers and candles and displaying a truly touching regard for their forebearers. Perhaps not the most light-hearted idea of an outing, but Kraków's cemeteries are places of beauty, tranquillity, art and history and well worth a visit.