5 beautiful Moscow cemeteries where it is not scary to walk

Autumn is the ideal time for walks in the park, but if you are not like everyone else, go to see the capital’s cemeteries. Do not think anything bad, we just believe that Moscow necropolises are the same historical places as temples, estates and mansions. Therefore, we decided to replace well-known routes with new ones – not the most predictable.

Some cemeteries of Moscow are architecturally unique and keep not only stories of outstanding personalities, but also mystical legends. Novodevichye, Troyekurovskoye, Donskoye, Vvedenskoye and Preobrazhenskoye cemeteries are not just places of rest, but real histories in which the fates of great writers, musicians and other historical figures are intertwined. In this collection we will immerse ourselves in the atmosphere of the most mysterious places and tell unusual stories about funerals.

Novodevichy Cemetery

Novodevichy Cemetery is one of the most famous cemeteries in Moscow. The place itself has secured its elite status, as many prominent cultural figures such as Chekhov, Shostakovich, Chaliapin, Nikulin, Bulgakov, Gogol and others are buried on the territory of the necropolis. By the way, some mystical stories that took place in this cemetery are connected with the latter. For example, according to legend, when Gogol’s body was reburied, scratches and damage were found on the coffin lid and his head was turned the other way. According to another version, the writer’s skull disappeared completely, and according to some sources, it was stolen by order of one of the merchants. There is no official confirmation of these rumors, which do not prevent Sufism lovers from trembling at the grave of the famous writer to this day.

Necropolis in the Donskoy Monastery

The necropolis in the Donskoy Monastery is the largest necropolis that has survived from the 18th and 19th centuries to the present day. Among the graves of such famous princes and nobles as the Obolenskys, Dolgorukys, Rimsky-Korsakovs and others, there are also the graves of participants in the Great Patriotic War and Decembrists. Also resting here is Daria Saltykova herself, as well as the cruel landowner Saltychikha, who tortured more than a hundred serfs to death. There are many unusual stories about his grave; in particular, many claim that the “bloody woman” was buried where the obelisk was located, at the entrance to the cemetery. Some even leave coins and carnations there, hoping to get help from him. Others believe that Saltychikha is actually buried in a completely different necropolis. However, this is not the case: the landowner’s grave can actually be seen at the Donskoye Cemetery, and his son Fyodor Saltykov is also resting next to him.

Troekurovskoye Cemetery

Troekurovskoe cemetery, also known as a branch of the Novodevichy necropolis, is located on the territory of the former estate of the Troekurov boyars. The cemetery itself is in good condition, as the local administration conducts frequent excursions to the burial places of famous personalities of the country, including the graves of Yulia Nachalova, Yuri Shatunov, Valentin Yudashkin and many other deceased artists, musicians and artists. Here is an unusual and perhaps the most expensive funeral in Russia, consisting of three parts, the scale of which is truly surprising. Music plays in the chapel without stopping for a moment. Also on the grave of the writer Eduard Limonov at the Troekurovsky cemetery you can see a monument that he invented during his lifetime.

Vvedenskoye Cemetery

Vvedenskoye Cemetery (or German, Non-Religious Cemetery) is interesting because here you can find many Catholic burials from Europe. This left a special mark on the appearance of the tombstones, distinguishing the cemetery from many other Moscow cemeteries. Franz Lefort, the “holy doctor” Haas, the artist Vasnetsov and others are buried here. There are also many graves of French soldiers who died in 1812 in the cemetery. Rumor has it that Napoleon Bonaparte himself gave a farewell speech at the funerals of many of them. In addition, on the territory there is the so-called wish vault, which is a chapel of the Erlanger family. Many people believe that if you write your wish on the walls, it will definitely come true. Here you can find many inscriptions with various wishes and appeals, which cemetery workers often have to paint.

Preobrazhenskoye Cemetery

Preobrazhenskoye is an ancient Old Believer cemetery that survived the plague epidemic in the second half of the 18th century. Therefore, most of the graves here belong to victims of the Black Death. Soon, only Old Believers began to be buried in the necropolis, and now most of the cemetery area is occupied by the graves of participants in the Great Patriotic War, among whom there are more than 10,000 fallen soldiers. Here, the first Eternal Flame in Moscow was lit on a mass grave, where anyone could ring the bell. There is also a long black chapel at the entrance of the cemetery, the like of which is unique in Moscow. The year of construction and the name of the architect are known, but most importantly, who it belongs to remains unclear.

Text: Anna Kozhevnikova