Jewish Cemetery in Währing

The Jewish cemetery in the 18th district of Währing was the main burial place of the Jewish Community in Vienna from 1784 to 1879. After its closure, some people were transferred to other cemeteries, and with the Nazi invasion, more skeletons were exhumed to protect them from desecration of corpses.

Further, in 1942 a number of remaining bones were excavated for „racial surveys“ and then buried in the new Jewish section of the Central Cemetery after WWII. In spite of the fact that many graves do not contain any mortal remains today, the cemetery also shows a tour through the upper middle class of the Ringstrasse era, which has shaped Vienna until today, because of the prominent Jewish citizens.

The cemetery, which is currently open once a month and has around 8,000 remaining graves, is being renovated step by step with the help of donations, sponsors, volunteers and the City of Vienna by the association „Rettet den jüdischen Friedhof Währing“ (Save the Jewish Cemetery Währing). Two themed paths and a permanent exhibition in the Tahara House provide information about history and current developments.