Architecture and Designs of Mausoleums/Crypts in the Grinzinger Friedhof [19th District - Döbling, Vienna]

Grinziger Friedhof [Grinzing Cemetery]

Located at An den langen Lüssen 33, 1190 Vienna

We had the opportunity to visit Oma Lisi´s grave and that of my mom in-law´s the other week located in this cemetery, the Grinzinger Friedhof. I also took the chance to photograph a few of the Mausoleums and crypts in the cemetery. As they say, this is a noble cemetery because this became the resting place of famous people. I am astonished as to how these buildings were preserved especially some of them are almost two centuries old. The history of this is that the land areas and extensions were mostly donated by affluent people. According to history, the cemetery opened in 1830 when the first burials took place.

Right to have a Grave

The fact is that, one cannot purchase any grave in Austria. The deceased will only have a temporary right of use for as long as the grave site fee is paid by the family. It´s normally contracted for 10 years and can be extended for as long as the family takes care on and on and on. When the grave site fee is no longer paid after notifications, the grave will be opened and the remains of the deceased will be moved to a general resting place.

However, the old mausoleums and crypts in Grinzing Cemetery have special historical value and therefore could not be demolished because they are protected. The Cemetery is also the resting place for many important and known people from various fields such as in Music, Arts, Theater, politics, science, philanthropy, etc. There is also a tour to view graves of famous people for a fee and this is done by some tour agents.

Mausoleum and the Corinthian Columns

This mausoleum here from the Badl Family, was fully designed with a glimpse of the Gothic style architecture with all those trimmings on the roof as well as the ceiling. Gargoyles are placed above the columns, their purpose of which is to gather the rainwater from the roof passing thru the mouth of each figure. Take note of the four Corinthian columns designed with the acanthus leaves on top of each pillar.

There are three principal types of columns under the Greek Order which have been developed in ancient Greece and were popularly used by the Romans too. They became so popular that they have incorporated these columns of buildings constructed during the Rennaissance period. But in the modern world, the best example of building that is fully designed with the Corinthian columns is the United States Capitol. For more details on the three main types of columns you can refer to an article here.

I find the Corinthian columns more elegant. And if you´re specifically interested about the Corinthian Columns, you can find more details in this article.

The Grave Chapel Weil [Below]

Source Grave chapel Weil at the Grinzinger cemetery in the 19th district of Vienna Döbling. The funeral chapel with cubic-graceful forms and an obelisk crowned with the figure of Victoria was built in 1877. Buried in it was the Grinzing wine wholesaler, municipal councilor, honorary citizen and benefactor Karl Weil (1819-1877).

The columns and design of the building is simple but pretty in details like the relief plaster on top of the entrance as well as the pretty wrought iron gate

Schneider-Seenuss Chapel and Mausoleum von Anton Schneider, Hotelier, 1820 - 1870 and Freiherr Gustav von Seenuss, 1833 - 1926

Mausoleum of August Sicard von Sicardsburg. He was an Austrian architect, who built with his partner Eduard van der Nüll (1812-1868) the building of the Vienna State Opera (1861-1869) in the Ringstrasse.

Mausoleum and funeral chapel of Ferstel Heinrich, Freiherr, Architect and Superintendent of Public Works, 1828 - 1883. This Neo-Gothic funeral chapel, was built in 1891 according to the architect's design by son Max von Ferstel

The Faber Family, first burial had been 1855

Gustav Adolf Gugitz, Architect, 1836 - 1882, Director of Der K.K. Staatsgewerblicheschule (Imperial Royal State Trade School Vienna), 17 buried family members. The columns are very simple more a Doric column.

Below: the grave with statue of Paula Kalman, partner of pianist and composer Emmerich Kalman [1882-1953]

And so these are just a few of well designed constructions of old Mausoleums and crypt in the Grinzinger Friedhof.

All images are owned by the author, @mers