Klingemann, HaraldHaraldKlingemann2024-11-192024-11-1920240030-222810.24451/arbor.22500https://doi.org/10.24451/arbor.2250010.1177/00302228241263133https://arbor.bfh.ch/handle/arbor/37134Background: A process of “emptying” can be observed in Swiss cemeteries. Urn burials are increasingly preferred to traditional interments, requiring much less space. Consequently, cemeteries are gradually transforming into park-like areas, triggering debates about proactive ways to use them as public spaces, rather than mourning sites. Objectives and Method: The study presented here probes for changes in the public perception of Bern cemeteries during the last two decades. The long-term analysis is based on a secondary analysis of interviews with 383 cemetery visitors in 2002 and a representative survey among 519 inhabitants of the city of Bern. Results: Tolerance for alternative land use increased further: Motivations for cemetery visits have shifted with a decline from 80% who mentioned ‘grave visit’ to 63% in 2021; ‘leisurely walk’ increased from 63% to 83%. High satisfaction with what cemeteries have to offer is mirrored in high values for perceived restorativeness in 2021.encultural differencesdiversityburialalternative landuseuser perspectivegreen spacelong-term comparisonarticle