Mirogoj: an arcaded city of memory

About Mirogoj: an arcaded city of memory

By the ULTIMATE Zagreb Editorial Team

Mirogoj, on a hill north of the centre, is far more than a cemetery: a calm park of avenues and trees enclosed by long, ivy-covered arcades and domes, designed by Hermann Bollé, where Catholics, Orthodox, Protestants, Jews and Muslims lie side by side.

A park for the dead

Mirogoj opened in 1876 on land that had belonged to the linguist Ljudevit Gaj. The architect Hermann Bollé, who also restored the cathedral, designed its great arcades, pavilions and domed entrance, built over several decades.

All faiths together

From the beginning, Mirogoj was open to all faiths. Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, Jewish and Muslim graves stand within the same walls, and the cemetery is a quiet record of the many communities that made Zagreb.

Mirogoj’s arcades are as grand as any palace in Zagreb.

Sculpture and memory

Many graves are works of art, with sculptures by Ivan Meštrović and other Croatian artists. Some of Croatia’s best-known writers, artists and public figures are buried here, along the arcades and the tree-lined avenues.

A peaceful walk

Mirogoj is a place for a slow, respectful walk, especially in autumn, when the ivy on the arcades turns red, and on All Saints’ Day, 1 November, when thousands of candles are lit across the cemetery.

Our advice: take bus 106 from the cathedral or walk up through the quiet streets north of Kaptol (about 25 minutes). Visit in the morning light, be respectful of mourners, and combine it with a walk back down through the Upper Town.

Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with Mirogoj: an arcaded city of memory before you go.