Novodevichy Cemetery

Novodevichy Cemetery (русский. Новоде́вичье кла́дбище, Novodevichye kladbishche) is the most famous cemetery in Moscow, Russia, situated next to the World Heritage Site, the 16th-century Novodevichy Convent, which is the city's third most popular tourist site. It should not be confused with the Novodevichy Cemetery in Saint Petersburg.

The cemetery was inaugurated in 1898, when it was judged that there were too many burials within monastery walls. One of the first notables to be buried there was Anton Pavlovich Chekhov, whose gilded tomb is the work of Fyodor Shekhtel. Today, the cemetery holds the tombs of Russian authors, musicians, playwrights, and poets, as well as famous actors, political leaders, and scientists. More than 27,000 are buried at Novodevichy. It has a park-like ambience, dotted with small chapels and large sculpted monuments. It is divided into an eastern and western section; maps are available at the cemetery office.

Under Soviet rule, burial in the Novodevichy Cemetery was second in prestige only to burial in the Kremlin Wall Necropolis. Since the fall of the Soviet Union, the Kremlin Wall is no longer used for burials and the Novodevichy Cemetery is used for only the most symbolically significant burials. For example, in April 2007, within one week both the first President of the Russian Federation Boris Yeltsin and world renowned cellist Mstislav Rostropovich were buried there.

In 2001 there was an attempt to move ballerina Anna Pavlova's remains to the Novodevichy Cemetery in accordance with her requests and after considerable controversy.

Sculptors

The work of these sculptors, among others, can be found at Novodevichy Cemetery:

  • Sergey Konenkov (1874–1971)
  • Vera Mukhina (1889–1953)
  • Ernst Neizvestny (b. 1925)
  • Ivan Shadr (1887–1941)
  • Yevgeny Vuchetich (1908–1974)

See also

External links

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Tips & Hints
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gerard t
17 June 2017
If you are an international tourist, most of the graves may not be of recognisable persons. But look for Anton Chekhov's grave in the old section. Look for the grave the tour groups are surrounding.
Dilek Altuntaş
28 April 2018
This is a state cemetery for famous Russian writers, composers, etc. Only russian nationals allowed to be buried there wlth only one exception. The famous Turkish Poet Nazim Hikmet is buried here.
In Your Pocket
22 February 2011
This is the Who's Who of Russia. Anyone who was anyone is here. Given the Russian adoration for statues and immense monuments, it is a fascinating place.
İbrahim Nergiz
1 May 2015
Nazım Hikmet'den bahsetmeye gerek var mı bilmiyorum ama diğer mezar taşları da muhteşem. Tek tek gezilesi. Arada ziyarete gelmiş olanları, havadaki hüznü hissedebilirsiniz.
Adnan Canlı
26 February 2015
"Yoldaşlar,nasip olmazsa görmek o günü;Ölürsem kurtuluştan önce yani;Alıp götürün Anadolu'da bir köy mezarlığına gömün beni.","Ölümden korkmuyorum,buraya gömülmekten korkuyorum..."demiş şair AMAAAAAA
Yuliana
20 October 2013
Самый восхитительный памятник - на могиле поэту Андрею Вознесенскому. Огромный шар, который катится по наклонной плоскости. Столько символического в этом!
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Valeria Zubareva, Nadya Popova and 12,093 more people have been here

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