The Association of Significant Cemeteries in Europe (ASCE) held the first Week for Discovering European Cemeteries in June. The British organisation, the Association of Burial Authorities (ABA), supports ASCE initiatives, which they say are broadly in line with ABA objectives.

The event aims to make the general public aware of the architectural and social importance of some cemeteries.

Cemeteries can provide exceptional architectural structures, invaluable catalogues of sculptural works from the past two centuries in particular, amazing summaries of the history of cities and nations, and unusual anthologies of the taste and habits of different social groups.

However, although some of these cemeteries already enjoy an international reputation and citizens, tourists, and scholars show an increasing interest towards them, their cultural significance is, in general, still largely unknown.

ASCE\'s aim is to make cemeteries familiar to Europeans and encourage a greater commitment to protecting and restoring them while ensuring a steady upkeep.

So on 3-13 June, ASCE staged their Week for Discovering European Cemeteries, with guided tours of cemeteries taking place in many European countries.

Lectures, concerts and exhibitions were also scheduled, thanks to the cooperation and/or sponsorship by municipalities, ministries, monuments and fine arts offices and volunteer work groups. The best scholars of such monumental structures will also be involved.

Related events took place in 19 European cities and nations, incluidng London and Sheffield.

In London on 13 June there was a guided tour of Brompton Cemetery, which included a lecture with drinks and snacks, and in Sheffield General Cemetery there was a guided tour.