New Podgórze Cemetery
Kraków Cemeteries
A municipal cemetery (Podgórze district) at the foot of Krakus Mound, founded in 1900 when the old cemetery ran out of space. It covers 8.37 hectares, and its chapel was consecrated in 1907. Along the main avenue stand family tombs of Podgórze's industrialists, merchants and craftsmen, and the nearby railway junction means many of those buried here were railway workers. In 1914-1919, 332 soldiers and prisoners of the First World War were buried in plot XI. In 2010 both Podgórze cemeteries were added to a European cultural route of significant cemeteries.
History
The New Podgórze Cemetery, at the foot of Krakus Mound, was established in 1900, when there was no more room in the old cemetery. The decision had been taken by the Podgórze Town Council as early as May 1897. The 8.37 ha site received its first burial on 17 April 1900. She was 23-year-old Tekla Dudek from Zakrzówek, and her grave no longer exists. The chapel was consecrated in 1907. During the First World War transports of wounded soldiers and prisoners arrived in Podgórze because of its large railway station, so section XI was set aside, where 332 soldiers and prisoners were buried in 1914-1919. The cemetery offers a cross-section of Podgórze society: there are few noble graves here, but industrialists, merchants and craftsmen have tombs along the main avenue built to their own designs, such as that of the Mateczny family, owners of a spa and bathing establishment. Railway workers' graves form a very large group. In 2008 the old and new Podgórze cemeteries joined ASCE, the Association of Significant Cemeteries in Europe.
Did you know?
The grave of Edward Cholewa, who died tragically at the age of 21, has survived to this day. His tombstone was paid for by his fellow workers, and it is the oldest surviving example in Kraków of solidarity among workers.