My Stockholm: finding Greta Garbo in Skogskyrkogården
The Skogskyrkogården, or Woodland Cemetery, is located about 15 minutes by metro, south from central Stockholm in Sweden. For its unique design, aesthetic character, and expanse both vertically and horizontally, the forest cemetery was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994.
I had read that Greta Garbo was buried here, and I wanted to find out for myself.
Skogskappellet (Woodland Chapel), with golden copper “angel of death”.
Skogskyrkogarden (Woodland Cemetery).
Lead up to Greta Garbo’s grave.
Born Greta Lovisa Gustafsson in Stockholm in 1905, Greta Garbo was discovered at the age of 17. She was honoured with four Academy Award nominations for her work which transitioned successfully from silent-films to “talkies” in what is now considered the “Golden Age” of filmmaking. Even now, she is considered one of the most beautiful women and one of the most important actresses ever to appear on the big screen. After only 27 films between 1924 and 1941, she retired to private life, away from celebrity spotlight. After her death in 1990 and subsequent legal issues, her cremated remains were buried in 1999 at Skogskyrkogården in the city where she was born.
In the 1955 biography “Garbo” by John Bainbridge, Garbo is quoted as saying:
I never said, ‘I want to be alone.’ I only said, ‘I want to be left alone.’ There is all the difference.
To reach the forest cemetery from Stockholm’s city centre, take the Tunnelbana green metro line 18 southbound in the direction “Farsta strand” to the stop called “Skogskyrkogården”. There is no charge or fee to enter Skogskyrkogården. Garbo’s grave is located south of the Skogskappellet (Woodland Chapel).
More from Stockholm
• The colours of Gamla Stan, Stockholm’s Old Town
• Say “Hej!” (and to food) at Lisa Elmqvist in Östermalm’s Saluhall market hall
• Daytrip to Vaxholm in Stockholm’s archipelago
The publicity photo above of Greta Garbo is by Clarence Sinclair Bull for MGM in 1939 (Wiki). I made the remaining photos above on 25 June 2008. This post is published on Fotoeins Fotografie at fotoeins DOT com as http://wp.me/p1BIdT-vP.
Fotoeins Fotografie 
7 Responses to “My Stockholm: finding Greta Garbo in Skogskyrkogården”
Gorgeous photos, and her gravestone is beautiful. Thanks so much for sharing this. I love it! 🙂
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Hi, Katie. Thank you for your kind comments! If you ever find your way to Stockholm, I highly recommend an afternoon at this wonderful forest cemetery; it really is a big beautiful park. I went to your blog, and you’ve got some great photographs. I’ve missed true changes in seasons living in north-central Chile, and the colors of fall in a couple of your photos only emphasize how much I miss that change in season. Thanks again for stopping by my blog!
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Hi Henry, I love your blog and thanks for all the research on Greta..what a fabulous quote. Great pics too! My hat is off to you.. cheers, Sonya
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Hi, Sonya – it’s really good to hear from you! I was very happy to have found Greta Garbo’s resting place; the forest cemetery in Stockholm is a beautiful quiet place to visit and find a moment’s peace some distance from the busy city. Thank you for reading, and for leaving your kind comment! 🙂
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[…] I’d been reading about Great Garbo, and it felt like a special moment to visit Stockholm’s forest cemetery and to pay silent respect at her final resting place. […]
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[…] • 7 reasons why Stockholm is super • Daytrip to Vaxholm in Stockholm’s archipelago • The colours of Gamla Stan, Stockholm’s Old Town • Say Hej! to Lisa in the Saluhall, Östermalm Stockholm • Greeting Greta Garbo in Stockholm’s Skogskyrkogården […]
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