Farkasréti Cemetery

Farkasréti Cemetery is a large, active cemetery on Németvölgyi út in Budapest’s hilly Buda district. Its quiet, cared-for grounds contain notable graves, statues and many plants, along with the distinctive funeral chapel designed by Imre Makovecz. The chapel’s beech-wood structure draws on the shape of a human rib cage, with the coffin placed at its centre. Come to see the architecture and pay your respects at the resting places of figures from Hungarian history; allow time for steep paths across the grounds.

Makovecz’s funeral chapel

The cemetery’s funeral chapel is one of architect Imre Makovecz’s two main works in Budapest. Its design takes inspiration from nature. Repeating beech planks form a rib-cage shape, with the coffin placed in the centre, where a human heart would sit symbolically.

The chapel is an architectural point of interest within the cemetery. Its unusual structure gives visitors a reason to look closely at the building as well as the graves around it.

A working cemetery on hilly ground

Farkasréti is a large, active cemetery, and funeral services take place on its grounds. The setting is quiet and the paths pass statues, planted areas and graves, including the resting places of notable people from Hungarian history. Gyula Germanus, a Hungarian scholar of Islam, is buried in block 17, row 2.

The terrain is steep in places, so walking between sections can take effort. A large map at the entrance can help you orient yourself before setting out. Water taps are available for drinking or watering plants. Some areas have limited lighting, so plan your visit for daylight.