- Address: Sockenvägen, 122 33 Stockholm, Sweden
- Phone: +46 8 508 317 30
- Opening hours: 11:00 - 16:00
One of the most popular excursions in Stockholm is a visit to Skogskurkurden or Skogskyrkogården, Skogskyrkogården. This is the Forest Cemetery, where the famous people of Sweden are buried.
general information
The pogost is located in the southern part of the city, the Enshed area. Here, surrounded by majestic pine trees, you can see the stages of the development of architecture, starting with romantic nationalism and ending with mature functionalism.
In 1914, by order of the King, an architectural tender of an international scale was announced, where they selected a project for Skogtschurkogarden. 53 variants were registered at the contest. The victory was won by the team of the young movement led by Sigurd Leverents and Gunnar Asplund in 1915. True, the jury made some changes in their development, which took about 2 years.
To build the Forest Cemetery began in 1917 and finished in 3 years. The pogost was founded on the territory of a gravel pit, overgrown with spruce and pine trees. Thanks to the natural landscape, this place has an amazing atmosphere of tranquility and unique beauty, which was copied for the design of cemeteries in other countries.
Description of sight
Young architects have thought through the project of the Skugskurkurden Forest Cemetery to every possible detail - from light bulbs in lanterns to the landscape of monuments . Leverents was involved in the design of the territory and the construction of the chapel. Asplund erected buildings and crematorium, which is famous for its Scandinavian classicism. Sculptures for the churchyard was created by Carl Milles.
Cremation gained great popularity in the twentieth century. The design of Skogskurkurden was oriented to its time, so there are special restrictions on the shapes and dimensions of the tombstones. Graves are located in the forest without excessive alignments and regulations.
On the territory of the forest cemetery there are:
- a monumental hall where farewell ceremonies are held;
- Chapels, restrained in an architectural style, but having a rich decoration and surrounded by a garden;
- columbarium - here are placed funerary urns.
In the cemetery have found their last shelter such famous people of Scandinavia:
- Greta Garbo is an actress;
- Oscar Lund is a director;
- Pelle Lindberg is an NHL player;
- Alexander (Paulus) - Metropolitan of Tallinn and All Estonia;
- Per Yngve Olin - a singer in the style of det-metal and black;
- Lennart Skoglund - football player;
- Eivind Yunson is a Nobel laureate, writer;
- Alma Johansson is a missionary.
Skogschurkogarden was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1994.
Excursion to the Forest Cemetery
The main route in Skogskurkorden is a long road leading from the colonnaded entrance. Then it bifurcates:
- The first way leads visitors to the portico of the crematorium of Woodland, the granite cross and the chapel of the Faith, Hope and Holy Cross.
- If you follow the second path, you will get to the memorial hill and a large pond with beautiful lilies.
Then these roads again combine in a straight alley. It passes through a dense grove of pine trees, which is also called the Way of the 7 Wells. The path leads to the Chapel of Resurrection and a large cross erected by Caspar David Friedrich's sketch. The cross symbolizes the hope that exists in this place.
During the excursions, you will not encounter mourning ceremonies, because there are different times for visits and burials. The entrance to the Skogskurkurden Forest Cemetery is free, it works every day, but only in the summer. On Sundays there are group tours. In the cemetery there is a bookstore, a cafe and various exhibitions devoted to history and architects-founders.
How to get there?
From the center of Stockholm , you can get there by bus number T18 (journey time about half an hour) and by car along the streets of Nynäsvägen and Söderledstunneln.