I explored this cemetery whilst visiting Munich from Los Angeles. It was quiet, well-kept, and smelled pleasantly of rich, wet earth...not unexpected of a cemetery...but what surprised me is that Munichans treat the area as a park. I encountered many joggers, mums with prams, people relaxing reading the paper or taking a work break in businesswear on a bench. There were even people lying in the grass reading books between graves, and someone was having a picnic near a tombstone. The statuary art is lovely and haunting. Adjacent to the cemetery, there's giant chess sets and a playground. I've explored and photographed cemeteries all over the world, and Alter Nordfriedhof is one of the most serene I've visited, despite the bustle. read more

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