I taught a mission prep class this week and gathered what photos I could find of current members of the Quorum of the Twelve back when they were young missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Can you figure them all out? Answers at the bottom.
We came to Der Wiener Zentralfriedhof, the Vienna Central Cemetery, to see dead musicians. The German-only map showed some Konfessionelle Bereiche (“sectarian divisions”) and featured a photo of a “Mormonen” monument – middle right below. How curious!
We made our way to section 57C and saw this statue of Christ and a child facing, presumably, the child’s parents. Given its location, the parents are apparently being welcomed into heaven where the child has already been for some time.
Vienna cemetery – LDS monument
I found an image of the original concept, which will be very interesting to temple-going Latter-day Saints. Note the yin and yang color differentiation at their feet.
The words around the base of the monument are: ich bin die Auferstehung und das Leben; wer an mich glaubt, wird leben, auch wenn er stirbt. In English: I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live (John 11:25).
Vienna cemetery – LDS monument
The statue is at the center of several family headstones:
Vienna cemetery – LDS monument
Vienna cemetery – LDS monument
Vienna cemetery – LDS monument
This Mormon section of the cemetery has room for 165 graves and 6 crypts. More info here if you’re interested.
Vienna is a cool place for fans of music and cemeteries. On our bike tour we saw monuments to Johann Strauss, Franz Schubert, Beethoven, Brahms, and Bruckner –
Johann Strauss monument – Vienna
Beethoven monument – Vienna
Brahms monument – Vienna
Treble clef in the grass in front of the Mozart monument – Vienna
Anton Bruckner – Stadtpark
Mozart monument – Vienna
Franz Schubert memorial – Stadtpark
The Vienna Central Cemetery (Wiener Zentralfriedhof) is a few miles out of town, a quick Uber ride away if you don’t want to figure out the buses. If you can decipher the map or just wander around long enough you’ll find Group 32A, final resting place of Ludwig Van Beethoven, Johannes Brahms, Franz Schubert, and Johann Strauss.
Vienna cemetery – Johann Strauss and Brahms graves
There’s also a monument to Mozart (who died in 1791 and was buried in a pauper’s grave in the St. Marx Communal Cemetery).
While you’re at it, you can find modern composer Arnold Schönberg (Group 32C), Mozart’s rival (in the movie Amadeus if not in real life) Antonio Salieri (grave 54 along the outer wall of the cemetery), and a nice little honorary grave to Austrian musician Heinz Neubrand.
Also, remember the weird 80s hit Rock Me Amadeus by Falco? His real name was Hans Hölzel and he was buried in the Vienna Central Cemetery after he died in a car crash in 1998 (grave 64 in Group 40).
Vienna cemetery – Heinz Neubrand grave
Vienna cemetery – Falco grave
Vienna cemetery – Falco grave
Vienna cemetery – Antonio Salieri grave
All over town you will see Mozart chocolates (Mozartkugel) for sale. You almost can’t help buying a few but please try to resist. They are filled with pistachio marzipan, which tastes like powdered bones.
Mozart candies – not recommended
Instead, spend your hard-earned euros on the most amazing gummy candies you’ll ever try, at Bärenland –
