Rakowicki Cemetery

Rakowicki Cemetery was founded in 1801-1802, and the first burials took place there in January 1803; that is the year on the plaque at the gate. Today the cemetery covers about 42 hectares. Many well-known figures of Polish history, culture and science are buried here.

Notable people buried at Rakowicki Cemetery

Those buried here include:

• Jan Matejko: painter, author of “The Battle of Grunwald” and “The Prussian Homage”;
• Wisława Szymborska: poet, winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature;
• Marek Grechuta: singer, poet and composer of sung poetry;
• Zbigniew Wodecki: musician, singer, composer and multi-instrumentalist, known among other things for the hits “Zacznij od Bacha” and “Chałupy”;
• Anna Szałapak: singer and actress associated with Piwnica pod Baranami, a performer of literary song;
• Jerzy Nowosielski: painter and stage designer, one of the most important Polish artists of his time.

Places of remembrance

The cemetery includes the graves of soldiers who fought in the national uprisings, among them the November and January Uprisings, as well as soldiers of the Polish Legions and those killed in the Polish-Soviet War.

Funeral services at Rakowice

Finding a grave

You can find a loved one’s grave using the online grave finder of the Municipal Cemeteries Board.

Visiting