The most expensive cemetery. The Mount of Olives is the most expensive cemetery in the world and a “ticket” to heaven. What is the Mount of Olives famous for?

Over many millennia, humanity has come up with a huge number of ways to honor their dead. From burial boats among the northerners and burning at the stake among the Hindus to mummification among the Egyptians and hanging coffins among the Chinese people, the choice was enormous. The advent of Judaism, Christianity and Islam also changed funeral traditions, bringing the most common type of burial. Today, burying the dead has become a profitable business. Many people think about a place for themselves and their families many years before a sad event. Everything is thought out: the coffin, clothes, cemetery, monument. The cost in some cases can amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars, or even millions. We offer an overview of the most expensive places in the world for those who have passed on to another world.

10. Graceland Cemetery, Chicago: up to $120,000

Opened in 1860, the cemetery now occupies an area of ​​48 hectares. It is known for its amazing Victorian design and nature. In addition, many of the city’s founding fathers are buried here. The cemetery is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and offers walking tours. The cost of a regular plot varies from two to four thousand dollars, but a premium or family plot will cost 120 thousand.

9. Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn: up to $320,000

Founded in 1838, Green-Wood Cemetery offers a stunning combination of nature, architecture and serenity on 193 acres. It rather resembles a park with wonderful lakes, buildings and sculptures. In good weather, people come here not only to visit friends and relatives who have gone to another world, but also to have a picnic. There are also many artists and photographers here. The price for a standard plot starts at $1,772, for burial in a common tomb they will ask $19,500, and for a personal crypt with an area of ​​70 square meters - $320,000.

8. Cryonics, Alcor Life Extension Foundation, Arizona: up to $338,000

Cryonics is the process of freezing a body in liquid nitrogen, which can now be stored almost forever. There is a theory that in the future, thanks to the development of medical technology, it will be possible to revive people. It is believed that memory, individuality and the neurostructure of the brain remain for some time after clinical death is declared. The procedure involves dehydrating the body using a special chemical cocktail – a cryoprotector. The body is then slowly frozen until it reaches a temperature of -93°, placed in a container of liquid nitrogen and cooled to -160°. The cost of cryopreservation of a whole body for a period of one hundred years will cost approximately $338,000.

7. Auburn Cemetery, Massachusetts: up to $500,000

Sometimes it is also called the first American cemetery-garden for its stunning nature and amazing landscapes. It was founded in 1831 by the famous botanist Jacob Bigelow. More than 100 thousand people are buried here, including many world-famous celebrities. The price of a simple plot in the Garden of Hope is $1,500, and for a premium plot you will have to pay up to 500 thousand.

6. Kensico Cemetery, New York: Up to $500,000

Kensico Cemetery, which opened in 1889, offers a stunningly beautiful final resting place for its “residents.” Its territory covers 186 hectares. Excursions are constantly held here. The cost of a simple plot is $1,800, and a personal crypt will cost $500,000.

5. Nirvana Memorial Garden, Singapore: up to $517,800

Built in 2001, the Garden of Memory is a luxurious columbarium serving the Buddhist population of the city-state. It is a combination of tranquility, modern architecture and infrastructure with stunning scenery. It is mesmerizing with majestic prayer halls, private rooms, shining golden statues, laser lighting and a quality sound system. Niche prices range from $6,994 to $517,800.

4. Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale: up to $825,000

Opened in 1906, the memorial park has since grown sixfold, but the cemetery was originally located in Glendale. At the moment, more than 250 thousand people are buried here. There are three chapels on the territory, in which not only the dead are commemorated, but also weddings, for example, former US President Ronald Reagan and actress Jane Wyman. The art museum regularly hosts exhibitions by famous artists. Many celebrities are buried here, including Michael Jackson. The price for a simple plot is $2820, for a premium plot – up to $825,000.

3. Woodlawn Cemetery, Bronx: Up to $1.5 million

Woodlawn Cemetery attracts millions of tourists every year not only because of the celebrities buried here, but also because of the amazing scenery. This is perhaps the most beautiful cemetery in the world, stunning with bronze, steel and stone masterpieces. It was opened in 1863 on an area of ​​160 hectares. There is a memorial dedicated to the tragic death of 192 passengers of the Titanic. The price of a simple plot starts at $4,800, but for a separate crypt you will have to pay up to 1.5 million.

2. Westwood Cemetery, Los Angeles: up to $4.6 million

Westwood Cemetery is known throughout the world thanks to celebrities who have found their final resting place here. The plots here are sold at open auction. In 2009, a place in the wall crypt next to Marilyn Monroe's cell was sold for a whopping $4.6 million.

1. Space, up to $34 million

For the wealthiest people, there is another method of burial - outer space. Eugene Roddenberry (American screenwriter and producer, author of the science fiction television series Star Trek), Leroy Gordon Cooper (American astronaut), Timothy Francis Leary (American writer, psychologist) have already embarked on their posthumous journey. The body is first cremated, and the cost of the service is calculated - $12,500 per gram. Since on average the ashes of one person weigh 2-3.5 kg, you will have to pay a tidy sum for the opportunity to travel around the solar system.
Not only the burial places of people can be unusual; they can also turn out to be no less original.

Expensive things during life, wealth, success, fame... And what next? Unfortunately, we are all mortal. Not by the moral actions of a person during life, but by the presence of a lot of money, as many believe, can be ensured the road to heaven. The last thing a person who has a lot of money can afford is the most expensive cemetery...

The Jerusalem cemetery is the most expensive road to heaven.

Such a cemetery is located in Jerusalem. The cost of a plot in this cemetery is at least $100,000. However, you can’t just buy this place. It is necessary to confirm that the deceased is a Jew by nationality, and not just a Jew, but a true believing Jew.

This cemetery is one of the oldest cemeteries in the world. It is located on the western and southern slopes of the Mount of Olives. Its dimensions are simply enormous and seem endless. And this is not surprising, there are at least 150,000 graves here, and the first burials in this cemetery date back to the 1st century BC. This cemetery is active, and many rich people want to rest in it. And this is explained by the fact that, according to predictions, this cemetery has “preferential” advantages - it is from this place that the resurrection of a person from the dead begins, and the road to heaven is guaranteed to those who are buried there.

The Mount of Olives is mentioned many times in the Gospel, this place is associated with Jesus. Traditions say that it was here that Jesus taught his apostles, here he came on the road to Jerusalem from Jericho, when he lived in the family of Mary, Martha and Lazarus, and it was here that he raised Lazarus. From this mountain Jesus descended to the inhabitants of Jerusalem as a Mission, and the people greeted him with cries of “Assana!” And most importantly, this mountain is associated with the ascension of Jesus, and therefore, all the churches that are located here are called Ascension.

Many prominent personalities, spiritual leaders and teachers are buried in this cemetery. It is believed that the prophets Zechiria, Ageus and Malachi are buried in this cemetery. Here are the graves of soldiers who fell in the War of Independence of 1947-1948, the graves of Jews who died during the “Great Arab Revolt” of the 40s, and victims of the 1929 pogroms are buried here.

The road to heaven for our stars.

Foreign and Russian media published information that in the world’s most expensive cemetery, places “closest to heaven” were purchased by our compatriots - Alla Pugacheva and Joseph Kobzon. However, there was no confirmation or refutation of this information from the artists’ press service.

And what? What exactly is the difference between a quiet, well-kept rural cemetery and the most expensive Jerusalem one? Really the road to heaven depends on the place of burial, or does the ability to go to heaven depend on a person’s worldly actions?

The property is full of architectural monuments, quiet streets lined with granite tiles, neighbors are millionaires, movie and sports stars, artists, sculptors and presidents. But this is not a place for a measured and calm life, but quite the opposite - we are talking about the “city of the dead” in the capital of Argentina, Buenos Aires. Recoleta is one of the most beautiful and famous cemeteries in the world and an architectural monument protected by the state and UNESCO. This is both an active necropolis and a popular tourist route at the same time.

Maxim Lemos, A professional cameraman and director, he has probably traveled to all the countries of Latin America and now works as a guide and travel organizer. On his website he posted a detailed description of the Recoleta cemetery and interesting stories associated with this place.

Recoleta does not look like a cemetery in the usual sense. Rather, it is a small town, with narrow and wide alleys, majestic crypt houses (there are more than 6,400 of them), incredibly beautiful chapels and sculptures. This is one of the most aristocratic and ancient cemeteries, which can be placed on a par with the famous Monumental de Staglieno in Genoa and Père Lachaise in Paris.

“The funeral traditions of South America are wild and creepy,” Maxim begins the “tour.” — The deceased is buried in a good coffin in a normal, beautiful crypt. But if these people are not rich, then they do not bury him there forever, since they have to pay to rent a beautiful crypt. Therefore, after 3-4 years the deceased is usually reburied. Why 3−4? So that the corpse has time to decompose enough so that it can be placed more compactly, now on a truly eternal refuge. It all looks like this. 3 years after the first funeral, the relatives of the deceased gather in the cemetery, near the crypt. Cemetery employees pull a coffin out of the crypt. Then they open it and, to the sobs of relatives “mama-mama...” or “grandmother-grandmother,” they transfer the half-decomposed corpse piece by piece from a beautiful coffin into a black plastic bag. The bag is carried solemnly to another part of the cemetery, and is stuffed into one of the small holes in the large wall. Then the hole is walled up and a sign is glued. When I found out about this, the hair on my head started to move.

The crypts are located quite close to each other, so the cemetery is quite small in area.

Here's Recoleta from a helicopter. It can be seen to be in the middle of a large residential area. Moreover, the square in front of the cemetery is the center of life in this area, there are many restaurants and bars.

The cemetery is active, so there are carts ready to transport coffins right at the entrance. At the top, above the main gate, is a bell. It is rung when a person is buried.

From 1910 to 1930, Argentina was one of the richest countries in the world. And during these times, there was an unspoken competition between the Argentine nobility to see who could build the most luxurious crypt for their family. Argentine capitalists did not spare money, they hired the best European architects, and the most expensive materials were brought from Europe. It was in those years that the cemetery acquired this appearance.

Whoever tried his best. For example, here is a crypt in the form of a Roman column.

And this one is in the form of a sea grotto.

Of course, the question naturally arises: what about the smell? After all, if you look closely, in each crypt there are coffins, the doors of the crypts are forged bars with or without glass... There must be a smell! In fact, of course, there is no corpse smell in the cemetery. The secret is in the design of the coffin - it is made of metal and hermetically sealed. And it is simply lined with wood on the outside.

Those coffins that are visible in the crypts are just the tip of the iceberg. The main one is in the basement. There is usually a small staircase leading into it. Let's take a look into one of the basements under this crypt. Only one basement floor is visible here, there is another one below it, and sometimes there are three floors down. Thus, entire generations lie in these crypts. And there is still a lot of space there.

Each crypt belongs to a specific family. And usually it is not customary to write on the crypt the names of those who are buried there. Write only the name of the head of the family, for example: Julian Garcia and family. They usually don’t write any dates, and it’s not customary to post photographs of the deceased.

This is how you can come and in one fell swoop visit not only grandparents, but also great- and even great-great-grandfathers... But Argentines VERY rarely visit cemeteries. The entire mission of installing flowers, caring for, cleaning and maintaining the crypts is given to the cemetery servants. The owners simply pay them money for it.

There are crypts without any information at all. Ida, that's all! What kind of Ida, what kind of Ida? I walked under Ida for a couple of years and did not know about its existence until one tourist noticed it by accidentally looking up.

Skull and crossbones are quite common in crypts. This does not mean that a pirate is buried here, and this is not someone's inappropriate joke. This is Catholicism. Religion dictates that they decorate the crypts this way.

By the way, here is another secret of this cemetery: there are a huge number of cobwebs and, accordingly, spiders here (just look at the photographs). But there are no flies! What do spiders eat?

Special tours of this cemetery are offered in Spanish. And the guides tell stories that match this cemetery: not boring and scientific, but exciting and fascinating - like Latin American TV series. For example: “...this rich gentleman quarreled with his wife and they did not speak for 30 years. Therefore, the tombstone was erected for them with humor. In the most gorgeous sculptural composition they sit with their backs to each other..."

Maxim Lemos also has true stories about some of the guests of this cemetery.

For example, one 19-year-old girl was buried in the family crypt. But after a while, it seemed to visitors that indistinct sounds were coming from the depths of the crypt. It was not clear whether the sounds were coming from the crypt or somewhere else. Just in case, the fireman notified the relatives, and it was decided to open the coffin with the girl.

They opened her up and found her dead, but in an unnatural position, and the coffin lid was scratched, and there was wood under her nails. It turned out that the girl was buried alive. And then the girl’s parents ordered to erect a monument to the girl in the form of her emerging from the crypt. And since then, at the cemetery they began to use a method that was fashionable in Europe at that time for such cases. A rope was tied to the corpse's hand, which led out and was attached to a bell. So that he could notify everyone that he is alive.

But this crypt is also remarkable. A young Argentinean woman, the daughter of very wealthy parents of Italian descent, is buried here. She died during her honeymoon. The hotel in Austria where she was staying with her husband was covered in an avalanche. She was 26 years old, and this happened in 1970. And Liliana’s parents (that was the girl’s name) ordered this luxurious crypt in the Gothic style. In those days, it was still possible to buy land and build new crypts. At the foot, in Italian, is a verse from a father dedicated to the death of his daughter. It keeps repeating “why?” A few years later, when the monument was ready, the girl’s beloved dog died. And she was also buried in this crypt, and the sculptor added a dog to the girl.

The guides, who needed to keep their audience occupied with something, began to say that if you rub the dog’s nose, good luck will surely overtake you. People believe and tinder...

The husband's body was never found in that Austrian hotel. And since then, the same man appears at the cemetery, who regularly, for many years, brings flowers to Liliana’s grave...

And this is the highest crypt in the cemetery. And its owners managed to impress everyone not only in height, but also in their sense of humor, combining two incompatible religious symbols on this crypt: the Jewish seven-branched candlestick and the Christian cross.

But this is the second largest and first most expensive crypt. It is made from the most expensive materials. Suffice it to say that the inside of the dome roof is lined with real gold. The crypt is huge, and its underground rooms are even larger.

And Federico Leloir, the Argentine Nobel laureate in biochemistry, is buried here. He died in 1987. But such a luxurious crypt was not built for the Nobel Prize (the scientist spent it on research), and it was built much earlier. And in general he lived extremely modestly. This crypt is a family one; Federico had wealthy relatives who were involved in the insurance business.

Several Argentine presidents are buried here. Here is President Quintana, depicted lying down.

And this is another president, Julio Argentino Roca. Just 50 years before Hitler, without unnecessary sentimentality, he announced that the southern lands needed to be liberated and annexed to Argentina. “Liberate” meant destroying all the local Indians. This was done. The Indians were destroyed, some of them were transported to central Argentina as slaves, and their lands, Patagonia, were annexed to Argentina. Since then, Roca has become a national hero and is considered one to this day. There are streets named after him, his portraits are printed on the most popular 100-peso bill. Those were the times, and what is now called genocide, racism and Nazism was the norm of life 100 years ago.

Some crypts are in a very abandoned state. For example, if all relatives died. But you still can’t take the crypt: it’s private property. Destroying or touching is also prohibited. But when it becomes clear that the owners of the crypt will no longer show up (for example, if it has been abandoned for 15 years), the cemetery administration takes a fancy to such crypts as warehouses for building materials and other equipment.

In one of the places of the cemetery, the caretakers set up a small household plot.

Among the crypts there was a toilet modestly hidden.

The cemetery is famous for its cats.

In our culture, it is customary to bring plastic wreaths with the inscriptions “from friends” and “from colleagues” at funerals. Then, after a few days, these wreaths are taken to a landfill. This is impractical! Therefore, in Argentina, wreaths are made of iron and welded to the crypt forever. Anyone can mark a friend's grave. And if the person was important, then there are many iron wreaths and memorial tablets on his crypt.

All crypts in the cemetery are private. And the owners can dispose of it as they please. They can also bury friends there. They can rent it out or even sell it. Prices for crypts in this cemetery start from 50 thousand dollars for the most modest one and can reach 300-500 thousand for a more respectable one. That is, prices are comparable to prices for apartments in Buenos Aires: here a 2-3-room apartment costs from 50-200 thousand dollars and up to 500 thousand in the most prestigious area. For example, here - the crypt is for sale.

Until 2003, it was still possible to purchase land on Recoleta and build a new crypt. Since 2003, the cemetery has become an architectural monument of not only Argentine but also world significance. Not only are any buildings prohibited here, it is also prohibited to modify or rebuild ready-made crypts. You can only restore old ones, and even then after a lot of permits and solely for the purpose of giving them their original appearance.

Some crypts and tombstones are being restored. For example, this one. True, this is being done with the Argentine working rhythm, there is a canopy, the restorers have not been seen for 2 months.

The Recoleta area itself is very prestigious. And the residents of these houses (across the road from the cemetery) are not at all bothered by the fact that their windows overlook the cemetery. On the contrary, people consider themselves chosen by fate - well, how can they live in Recoleta!

However, Maxim Lemox himself believes that Recoleta is “a monument to wild, unusual funeral traditions for us and a competition of inappropriate show-offs: “who is cooler and richer” and “who has more marble, the tombstone is higher, and the monument is more exclusive and larger.”

Can a cemetery be expensive?

The expression “most expensive” is applicable to many things that accompany a person throughout life. For some people, these words have magical powers, and they are willing to go to great lengths to receive such things. This could be the most expensive toy for a child, the most expensive school, and then the most expensive car or mansion. The last thing a person with a lot of money can use is the most expensive cemetery.

Cemetery in Jerusalem

There is such a cemetery, and it is located in Jerusalem. A place in this cemetery costs at least 100 thousand dollars, but you can buy it only if there is confirmation that the deceased is not only a Jew by nationality, but also a true believing Jew.

This is one of the oldest cemeteries in the world. It is located on the southern and western slopes of the Mount of Olives. Its dimensions are enormous - the cemetery covers the entire slope of the mountain and looks endless. This is not surprising, because there are at least 150 thousand graves here, and the first burials date back to the 1st century BC. The cemetery on the Mount of Olives is still active, and many rich people wish to rest there. The particular importance of the cemetery is explained by the fact that, according to predictions, it has a “preferential” advantage - it is from here that the resurrection of the dead will begin, and the one who is buried there will go to heaven.

The meaning of the Mount of Olives

The Mount of Olives is mentioned several times in the Gospel as a place that is associated with Jesus. According to legend, here he taught his apostles, he came here on the road from Jericho to Jerusalem, when he lived in the family of Lazarus, Mary and Martha, here he raised Lazarus. From here Jesus descended to the people of Jerusalem as the Old Testament Mission, and they greeted him with cries of “Assana!” But most of all, the Mount of Olives is associated with the ascension of Jesus, which is why all the churches located here are called Ascension.

Many spiritual leaders and teachers, outstanding personalities of the state, rest in this cemetery. The prophets Malachi, Ageus and Zechariah are believed to be buried here. Here are the graves of victims of the 1929 pogroms, soldiers who died in the War of Independence of 1947-48 and Jews who died during the “Great Arab Revolt” of the forties. Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin, famous cultural figures E. Lasker-Shiler, Shai Agnon, E. Ben-Yehuda, Boris Schatz are buried here.

Russian stars are closer to heaven

Publications have appeared in Russian and foreign media claiming that Russian pop stars Joseph Kobzon and Alla Pugacheva bought themselves places in the most expensive cemetery in the world, “closest to heaven.” There was no confirmation or refutation of this information from the artists’ press service.

The most expensive cemetery in the world is located in Israel. Moreover, it is not enough just to pay for a place (about one hundred thousand dollars). Only Jews, and only believing Jews, can be buried in the cemetery in Jerusalem. Therefore, not everyone can get a place.

This cemetery is considered one of the oldest in the world. It is located on the slopes of the Mount of Olives. The southern and western slopes are covered with graves, and the vast cemetery contains approximately 150,000 burials. The first graves appeared in this place in the 1st century BC. e. Today, wealthy people can claim the most expensive cemetery as their final resting place. Such enormous popularity is not accidental. After all, believers believe that those buried in these places will definitely go to heaven.

The Mount of Olives is also called the Mount of Olives. This passage is often found on the pages of the Gospel. The resurrection of Lazarus, the teaching of the apostles, the journey from Jericho to Jerusalem, as well as the resurrection of Jesus are associated with this place. All churches located on the Mount of Olives are called Ascension.

It became the resting place of famous people who made a great contribution to the history, culture and spiritual development of mankind. Some believe that the graves of the prophets Malachi, Agea and Zechariah are also located here. In the cemetery on the Mount of Olives lies Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin, victims of the Jewish people who died as a result of repressions and pogroms over the years. Here are the graves of the German writer Elsa Lasker-Schiler, the Israeli writer and Nobel Prize winner Shmuel Yosef Agnon, the man who revived Hebrew, Eliezer Ben-Yehuda, the Jewish sculptor Boris Schatz and many other cultural, artistic, and spiritual figures.

Sometimes in the press, including foreign ones, there are mentions that Joseph Kobzon and Alla Pugacheva also bought places here. But information, will it become most expensive cemetery the place of their burial has not yet been confirmed, but also not refuted.