Preserving Polish heritage: cemeteries and memorials at home and abroad honor Poland’s history across generations.
In Poland, All Saints’ Day brings a reflective tradition of visiting cemeteries to remember those who have passed. At Warsaw’s Old Powązki Cemetery, a fifty-year-old tradition of fundraising supports the restoration of historic tombstones, preserving over 1,700 graves to date. This initiative, recognized on the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage, runs from November 1–3 each year.
Ministry of Culture’s Global Stewardship
The Ministry of Culture and National Heritage maintains Polish cemeteries abroad, honoring Polish history in 78 sites worldwide. These efforts, funded through the “National Memorial Sites Abroad” program, receive over six million złoty in support.
Preserving National Memory
From Monte Cassino in Italy to the cemeteries of Central Asia, the ministry cares for graves and memorials honoring soldiers, exiles, and civilians. Restoration projects extend to countries such as Ukraine, Lithuania, and Tanzania, where each grave stands as a testament to Poland’s enduring legacy.