Friedhof Albisrieden

Albisrieden Cemetery (Friedhof Albisrieden) is a small municipal graveyard in the Albisrieden district, in western Zurich. Opened in 1902, it covers just over one hectare and is listed in the city's inventory of garden monuments. For visitors interested in local history and landscape design, it is a quiet stop away from the usual tourist routes.

Where is Albisrieden Cemetery?

The cemetery lies in the west of Zurich, in the former village and now district of Albisrieden, at Untermoosstrasse 31, 8047 Zürich. The cemeteries of Altstetten and Eichbühl are nearby, and together they form the network of municipal burial grounds in western Zurich. The coordinates are roughly 47.379° N, 8.481° E.

What is its history?

The cemetery opened in 1902 and was extended in 1939. In 1981 the city council decided that burials would continue only until 2005 and that the site would be closed for good in 2027 and turned into a green space. Residents of the district protested. Because of that resistance, the decision was reversed in 2004, and the cemetery stayed.

Why is it protected?

In 2009 the city added the cemetery to its inventory of garden monuments. The former mortuary chapel from 1902 has been on the list of buildings worth protecting at municipal level since 2019. Today it serves as a service building, while farewell ceremonies take place at the nearby Eichbühl cemetery.

What is there to see?

The most notable modern feature is the communal grave created in 2010. It was designed by the landscape architects Ernst und Hausherr together with the artist Jürg Altherr. The cemetery has 16 communal graves, where about 1,100 of the roughly 3,000 people buried here rest. The whole site measures 10,052 square metres, so a walk around takes little time.

How should you visit?

This is a place of mourning and remembrance, not a tourist attraction. Keep quiet, do not photograph people at the graves, and stay on the paths. Current opening hours and visiting rules are published by Grün Stadt Zürich, the city department responsible for cemeteries.

Frequently asked questions

When was Albisrieden Cemetery established? In 1902, and it was extended in 1939.

Is the cemetery a protected site? Yes. It has been in Zurich's inventory of garden monuments since 2009, and the former chapel from 1902 has been protected as a building of municipal significance since 2019.

Was the cemetery meant to be closed? Yes. A 1981 decision planned closure in 2027, but after residents protested it was cancelled in 2004.

What is the address? Untermoosstrasse 31, 8047 Zürich.

How big is it? 10,052 square metres, just over one hectare.

Who designed the communal grave? The firm Ernst und Hausherr and the artist Jürg Altherr, in 2010.