Cementiri de Vic

Cementiri de Vic is a historic municipal cemetery in the Catalan city of Vic, in the Osona region, built in neoclassical style and protected as a cultural asset of local interest. It was constructed in the early 19th century, and its establishment triggered the urbanisation of the land formerly known as Horta d'en Xandri, stretching between what are today Gurb and Manlleu streets. The cemetery opened in 1834, making it one of the older necropolises in the region.

What does the layout of the cemetery look like?

The cemetery occupies a rectangular enclosure oriented north-south. On the north side, at the centre of the wall, stands a neoclassical chapel, while the south side holds the main entrance gate, flanked by rows of burial niches (columbaria). The entrance portal itself is a notable architectural feature: two fluted columns with capitals support an entablature, above which sits a marble cross and a marble plaque carrying memento mori symbols — an hourglass, a torch and a scythe. On either side of the gate wall, facing south, rise two towers built of cut stone, breaking up the monotony of the long, plain wall.

Which pantheons are worth seeing?

Inside the cemetery stand several remarkable family pantheons from the Catalan modernist period, designed in the 1930s by architect Josep M. Pericas. The Bayès family pantheon, completed in 1934, is a compact composition built around a truncated pyramidal body, from which a prismatic element projects forward holding a vertical tombstone, topped with a cubic form bearing patriarchal crosses carved on each face. Equally striking is the pantheon known as Panteó de les Josefines, also from 1934, whose façade features a truncated triangular pediment with a pierced round-arched tympanum filled with a wrought-iron grille depicting a Greek cross and poppy flowers, crowned by a braided, Celtic-style stone cornice.

What historical events does the cemetery commemorate?

Among the many tombs and monuments on the grounds, a cenotaph stands out, dedicated to the memory of those who died at the Battle of Coll Formic in 1874, one of the bloodiest episodes of the Third Carlist War — a conflict that deeply affected the Catalonia region during the 19th century. The presence of this memorial means the cemetery serves not only as a burial ground but also as a record of the local history and armed conflicts that shaped the fate of Vic and its surroundings.

Why is Cementiri de Vic worth a visit?

The cemetery in Vic combines architectural and historical value: the neoclassical composition of the gate and chapel coexists with elegant modernist family pantheons, while the inscriptions and monuments tell the story of the people of the Osona region across nearly two centuries. For anyone interested in funerary architecture, Catalan history, or traces of the Carlist Wars, it is a place well worth a quiet walk.

Frequently asked questions

When was Cementiri de Vic built? The cemetery opened in 1834, and its construction kicked off the urbanisation of the Horta d'en Xandri lands.

In what style was the cemetery designed? The main layout — the gate and chapel — follows neoclassical style, while some of the family pantheons from the 1930s represent Catalan modernism.

Who designed the cemetery's best-known pantheons? The Bayès family pantheon and the Panteó de les Josefines were both designed by architect Josep M. Pericas in 1934.

What historical event does the cemetery's cenotaph commemorate? The cenotaph honours those who died at the Battle of Coll Formic in 1874, during the Third Carlist War.

Is the cemetery legally protected? Yes, Cementiri de Vic is listed as a Cultural Asset of Local Interest (Bé Cultural d'Interès Local).