Cimetiere des Chiens – France
The Cimetière des Chiens is often claimed to be the first zoological necropolis in the world (although this ignores ancient burial such as Askelon which predate it by thousands of years). It opened in 1899. Literally translated as the "Cemetery of Dogs," this elaborate pet cemetery is the burial site for many dogs but also for a wide variety of pets ranging from horses to monkeys to lions and even fish.
Hanging Coffins – Philippines
Lumiang Caves are unique caves located in Sagada, Mountain Province in the Philippines. These caves are actually burial caves where you’ll see hanging coffins. Before the coming of the Spaniards and Americans, caves and cliffs in Sagada and nearby areas serve as burial places. Dead relatives were encased in coffins and were fitted in the fetal position. I believe people in this area still practice this method of burying or should I say, keeping their deads.
Merry Cemetery – Romania
The Merry Cemetery is a cemetery in the village of Săpânţa, Maramureş county, Romania. It is famous for its colourful tombstones with naïve paintings describing, in an original and poetic manner, the persons that are buried there as well as scenes from their lives. The Merry Cemetery became an open-air museum and a national tourist attraction.
Single Woman’s Churchyard – United Kingdom
It is believed to have been established originally as an unconsecrated graveyard for "single women," a euphemism for prostitutes, known locally as "Winchester Geese," because they were licensed by the Bishop of Winchester to work within the Liberty of the Clink. The liberty lay outside the jurisdiction of the City of London, and as a consequence it became known for its brothels and theatres, as well as bull and bear baiting, activities not permitted within the City itself.
Neptune Memorial Reef -- USA ( World’s First Underwater Cemetery )
The Neptune Memorial Reef (also known as the Atlantis Memorial Reef or the Atlantis Reef) is the world’s first underwater mausoleum for cremated remains and the world’s largest man-made reef. Opened in 2007, off the coast of Miami Beach, the Neptune Memorial Reef is the perfect final resting place for those who loved the sea.
Stull Cemetery -- USA, Highway to Hell ?
Located in Kansas, this cemetery has gained the reputation as one of the world’s most haunted cemeteries. Some people even consider it to be one of the seven gateways to Hell. There are so many legends, stories of witchcraft, ghosts and supernatural happenings surrounding it that even Pope John Paul II allegedly ordered his private jet not to fly over Stull while he was on the way to a public appearance in Colorado in 1995. The Pope considered Stull “unholy ground”.
Le Mummie di Urbania -- Italy
La Chiesa dei Morti, The Church of the Dead, is located in Urbania in Italy. Inside lies the Cemetery of the Mummies, which was built in 1833. This cemetery is famous for its strange phenomenon of natural mummification. According to specialists, the process is caused by a particular mold that has absorbed moisture from the corpses leading to the complete desiccation of the bodies.
Libingan ng Mga Bayani – Philippines
Libingan ng mga Bayani (Filipino for Cemetery of the Heroes) is a national cemetery within Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City, Metro Manila in the Philippines. It was established as a fitting resting place for Filipino military personnel from privates to generals, as well as heroes and martyrs. Among those buried in the cemetery are most of the defenders of Bataan, Corregidor, and other Battlefields by Allied recaptured for the Liberation of the Philippines during World War II. It also contains the national Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Believe it or not, a dog is buried here. The dog, a K-9 dog, was considered a hero because of its exceptional heroism and exemplary contribution to the armed forces. The dog was also given full military honors. “Not all humans are heroes and not all heroes are human”.
The Bridge to Paradise – Xcaret’s one-of-a-kind cemetery m-- Mexico
The Bridge to Paradise, in the Xcaret Nature and Cultural Park, is quite an intriguing Mexican cemetery. Its structure is based on the Gregorian calendar: the cemetery simulates a hill with seven levels representing the days of the week and 365 colorful tombs on the outside depicting the days of the year. The main entrance is a stairway with 52 steps that represent the weeks of the year. Each grave is different from the others in design and building materials. One might look like a replica of a famous cathedral, while the next one looks like a sofa or a bed with headboard and pillows.
Ale’s Stones – Sweden
Ale's Stones (or Ales stenar in Swedish) is a megalithic monument in Scania in southern Sweden. It consists of a stone ship 67 meters long formed by 59 large boulders of sandstone, weighing up to 1.8 tonnes each. According to Scanian folklore, a legendary king called King Ale lies buried there.
