Powązki Cemetery

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Powązki Cemetery (Polish pronunciation: [pɔˈvɔ̃skʲi]; Polish: Cmentarz Powązkowski), also known as Stare Powązki (English: Old Powązki), is a historic necropolis located in Wola district, in the western part of Warsaw, Poland. It is the most famous cemetery in the city and one of the oldest, having been established in 1790. It is the burial place of many illustrious individuals from Polish history. Some are interred along the "Avenue of the Distinguished" – Aleja Zasłużonych, created in 1925. It is estimated that over one million people are buried at Powązki. The cemetery is often confused with the newer Powązki Military Cemetery, which is located to the north-west of Powązki Cemetery.

Powązki Cemetery was established on 4 November 1790 on land donated by nobleman Melchior Szymanowski, and consecrated on 20 May 1792. Initially it covered an area of only about 2.5 ha. In the same year Saint Karol Boromeusz Church, designed by Dominik Merlini, was built on the northern edge of the cemetery. The catacombs were erected soon thereafter.

Several other cemeteries were founded in the area: the Jewish cemetery, and those of the Calvinist, Lutheran, Caucasian and Tatar communities. The Orthodox cemetery is also located in the vicinity.

As in many old European cemeteries, some of the tombstones in Powązki were created by renowned sculptors, both Polish and foreign. Some of the monuments are examples of the then prevailing styles in art and architecture.

On All Saints Day (1 November) and Zaduszki (2 November) in Warsaw, vigils are held not only in the Roman Catholic cemeteries, but in the Protestant, Muslim, Jewish and Orthodox cemeteries as well to honor the deceased and express remembrance. At Powązki Cemetery, many graves are lit up by Votive candles

- Tekla Bądarzewska-Baranowska (1834–1861), composer

- Izabela Barcińska née Chopin, (1811–1881), younger sister of Fryderyk Chopin

- Wojciech Bogusławski (1757–1829), writer, actor, director

- Stefan Bryła (1886–1943), notable for first welding bridge-Maurzyce Bridge

- Jan Gotlib Bloch (1836–1902), banker, railroad entrepreneur, philanthropist, economist, economist and social activist

- Halina Chmielewska (1899–1982), doctor and insurgent during the Warsaw Uprising

- Emilia Chopin (1812–1827), youngest sister of Fryderyk Chopin

- Ludwika Jędrzejewicz née Chopin (1807–1855), oldest sister of Fryderyk Chopin

- Mikołaj Chopin (1771–1844), father of Fryderyk Chopin

- Tekla Justyna Chopin (1782–1861), mother of Fryderyk Chopin

- Halina Chrostowska (1929–1990), printmaker, activist, and educator

- Gerard Antoni Ciołek (1909–1966), architect and historian of gardens

- Ignacy Dobrzyński (1807–1867), composer

- Józef Elsner (1769–1854), composer and conductor. Piano teacher of Fryderyk Chopin.

- Władysław Filipkowski (1892–1950), military commander