5 cozy cemeteries in Latvia, where it is very beautiful and (almost) not scary

Pet cemetery

The phrase «pet cemetery» has taken on a horrifying connotation with the light hand of Stephen King. But what you will see near Riga will not frighten you, but rather touch you with the level of human affection for various living creatures. The story of Citi medību lauki begins in 2002, when a beautiful Newfoundland dog named Karbo Cerbo Kongo Van der Klemanso died. In 2004, Uģis Rūķītis decided to immortalize the memory of his faithful friend and created a pet cemetery in the Marupe region. In his opinion, not only people have the right to a decent burial. The dog was part of his family, which means that the monument in his honor should be appropriate.

During its existence, the pet cemetery has managed to form sad stories and horrifying legends. Among the graves you can find a sad monument to a cat that died in a washing machine. People did not notice how she climbed inside and started washing laundry. But the most sinister legend has to do with the ghost of a squirrel that some people observed on the night of the Ligo celebration. Eyewitnesses claim to have seen a bloody oak wreath on its head and a kebab skewer in its paw. It tries to stab anyone who makes fires in the beautiful pine forests here.

Despite its sad context, Citi medību lauki is one of the most beautiful pet cemeteries in Eastern Europe. It was created by landscape architect Inese Grundule and designer Guntis Sakne. The entrance gate was designed by Ģirts Burvis. Near the main entrance to the cemetery are two monuments to all living creatures that died in forest fires, as well as to animals buried elsewhere or missing.

The cemetery can be reached by road A9 (Riga–Liepaja). The cemetery is located a short drive from Riga Airport. The exact address and opening hours can be found on the Citi medību lauki website.

A boat graveyard in Mazirbe

Most of us associate the word «cemetery» with tombstones with people buried under them. But sometimes this is the name of the resting place of inanimate objects, which were very valuable to their owners. This is the name of one of the most unusual cemeteries in Latvia, where about ten boats have found eternal rest. 

This location is not easy to reach and it is better to plan a trip of at least two days. It takes about three hours one way to get to Mazirbe by private vehicle. And if you are going to take public transportation, keep in mind that there are only two buses a day from Riga to these distant places. It is also worth taking into account that on a one-day trip you will spend almost eight hours on the road, and only one hour and twenty minutes will be left for visiting the boat cemetery and interesting places of the village. Therefore, it is recommended to think about booking a place to stay in advance.

The «skeletons» of fishing boats, forever abandoned in the coastal forest, have become a kind of visiting card of Mazirbe. Their appearance is connected with a rather prosaic history. After the reoccupation of Latvia, the Soviet authorities restricted the access of local fishermen to the sea. Local waters were considered border waters, and to continue fishing required a difficult path of approvals from border guards. Many abandoned their fisheries and left their boats on the shore. They began to accumulate here since the late 1950s, and the last one was permanently moored in 1976. At present, less than a dozen ruined frames can be found, earlier there were several times as many.

Mazirbe has the added charm of being the original capital of the Livs, who were once a numerous people. They settled in this area along the sea coast and were mainly engaged in fishing. Despite the fact that there are no native speakers of the Livonian language left in the world today, all the information signs here are duplicated in it. In the middle of the village stands a large white-washed building — it is the center of Liv culture, built in the late 1930s. Events are sometimes held here to support the crafts and arts of the small indigenous people.

Garrison cemetery in Aluksne (Garnizona kapi)

It is not without reason that this particular burial ground is considered one of the most beautiful in the country. It is situated on an elevated peninsula with stately coniferous trees. From different sides there is a view of the wide lake and the city panorama with the bell tower and small houses. The cemetery has long been not only a place of remembrance, but also a comfortable green area for nature walks and contemplating the scenery.

The Garrison Cemetery is included in the territory of the Big City Cemetery and it is from here that the most picturesque views of the surrounding countryside can be seen. It was founded in 1932 by the 7th Sigulda Infantry Regiment. Soldiers of the Republic of Latvia and civilians, including those who fought against the Bolsheviks and died at their hands, are buried here.

Every first Saturday in October, the cemetery hosts a candlelight vigil. Thousands of lights are lit at the graves — a very beautiful and mesmerizing sight.

Martin’s Cemetery in Riga (Mārtiņa kapi)

Pārdaugava pleases many people with its lamplike atmosphere: crooked streets, cozy parks, small cafes and diverse wooden architecture. But some corners of Riga’s left bank districts can surprise even the most sophisticated.

Not far from the building of the main historical archive, in the shade of the trees of Slokas Street, stands the Lutheran Church of Martin of Riga, built in the middle of the 19th century. Its backyard overlooks the island of Ķīpsala and old industrial buildings. To the left of the main facade is a small cemetery bordering the beautiful neo-Gothic building of Jaņa Rozentāla Rīgas mākslas skola (Jaņa Rozentāla Rīgas mākslas skola).

This place is especially nice in October, when the leaves are full of all the colors of autumn. You can entertain yourself during the walk by searching for the grave of Kristaps Piens. There is an interesting and rather strange story about how the pupils of the local kindergarten buried their dead pets: canaries, hamsters and other animals to the monument. This is such a peculiar tradition.

German military cemetery in Daugavpils (Vācu karavīru kapi)

In a green strip on the outskirts of the city, where the forest park smoothly passes into the cemeteries of various denominations, there is a small burial place for soldiers who fought on the side of Hitler’s Germany. About 3000 people of different nationalities and religions are buried here. The restoration and improvement of the group burial place was carried out in 2004 by the German People’s Union in cooperation with the Committee of Brotherhood Cemeteries. This place is characterized by well-maintained and minimalist: ascetic stone crosses stand among pine trees on a neat lawn. 

Due to the difficulty of morally accepting such a burial, some people regularly vandalize local monuments. But it is important to realize that not all soldiers of Nazi Germany shared the positions of the leadership. Like many residents of Latvia, they were forcibly mobilized and incorporated into the ranks of the Third Reich’s soldiers. And the cemetery does not glorify these people, but gives them the right to be remembered.

The design of the military cemetery is a typical one, repeated in many other cities and countries. For example, near St. Petersburg, in the village of Sologubovka, there is one of the largest burials of Hitler’s German soldiers in Europe — over 55,000 people.