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About this place
Kilchberg cemetery is a small churchyard cemetery in Kilchberg, a quiet municipality on Lake Zurich just beyond the city limits of Zurich. For literature lovers it is one of the more meaningful stops in Switzerland, because two writers tied to the village rest here: Conrad Ferdinand Meyer and Thomas Mann, together with his family.
Who is buried in Kilchberg cemetery?
The cemetery plan published by the municipality highlights three graves that draw most visitors. Number 1 is the grave of Conrad Ferdinand Meyer, the Swiss poet and novella writer who died in Kilchberg in 1898. Number 2 is the Mann family grave, where Thomas Mann, the German Nobel Prize-winning novelist, lies. Number 3 is the grave of his son Golo Mann, a historian and essayist.
The Mann family lived in Kilchberg for roughly forty years, from 1954 to 1994. Thomas Mann died in 1955, and his family grave is today among the most visited places in the cemetery.
What is the place like?
This is a working parish cemetery with a calm, modest character. The writers' graves are understated and easy to miss without a map, so it helps to use the cemetery plan that the Kilchberg municipality publishes. Because it is an active burial ground, keep voices low and respect mourners visiting their own relatives.
What else is nearby?
At Alte Landstrasse 170 stands the Conrad Ferdinand Meyer-Haus. It hosts the "Familie Mann-Zimmer" exhibition about the four decades the Mann family spent in the village. According to museum listings it opens on selected afternoons (Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday), but check the hours before you go.
Frequently asked questions
Can I visit Thomas Mann's grave? Yes. It is the Mann family grave in Kilchberg cemetery and is marked on the cemetery plan.
Where is Conrad Ferdinand Meyer buried? In the same cemetery; his grave is listed as number 1 on the plan.
Is there an entrance fee? The cemetery is a public place; please stay quiet and respectful.
Who is it for? Readers of German-language literature, anyone interested in Swiss history, and visitors who enjoy a peaceful walk by Lake Zurich.
How should I plan a visit? Combine the cemetery with the Meyer museum and a stroll through the village, and download the cemetery plan from the municipal website beforehand.
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