Behind the cemetery of the Catholic church of Hallstatt is the “Beinhaus”, which means “Bone House” in English. It’s a little room filled with bones and decorated skulls…hundreds of them. Back in the day, bodies would be buried and about fifteen years dug up, dried in the sun, and the skulls were then decorated with the family name and symbols of faith, love, serenity, etc. They were then put to rest in the Beinhaus in family groups. Today the people of Hallstatt no longer have this tradition, but if you really want to be put in the Beinhaus, you can specify it in your will and they will honor your wishes.
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