The First Grave of René Descartes – Stockholm, Sweden - Atlas Obscura
THE GASTRO OBSCURA BOOK An eye-opening journey through the history, culture, and places of the culinary world. Just released! The Gastro Obscura book is here! Order Now
What's near me?

The First Grave of René Descartes

Stockholm, Sweden

Inside this church, a monument honors the first burial site of the famed philosopher.  

View all photos
The First Grave of Descartes CoolCrab (Atlas Obscura User)
The First Grave of Descartes CoolCrab (Atlas Obscura User)
The First Grave of Descartes CoolCrab (Atlas Obscura User)
The First Grave of Descartes CoolCrab (Atlas Obscura User)
The First Grave of Descartes CoolCrab (Atlas Obscura User)
42
91
Top Places in Stockholm
Stockholm Metro Art Gallery
Stockholm, Sweden
Aifur
Stockholm, Sweden
Johanneshovs Skans (Johanneshov Sconce)
Stockholm, Sweden
 See All
This entry is a stub
Help improve Atlas Obscura by expanding The First Grave of René Descartes with additional information or photos.

As a Catholic residing in a mostly Lutheran country, when René Descartes passed away in Sweden, it was difficult to find a place to bury him. 

Originally, his remains were interred at St. Olof’s Chapel, a small wooden church far from the city’s center. After 16 years, Descartes’s remains were retrieved by French government officials and taken back to France. There, his remains received a proper blessing and Catholic burial at the Abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prés.

In 1774, Adolf Fredriks kyrka was finally complete, replacing St. Olof’s Chapel. King Gustav III, still a prince at the time, decided to honor the philosopher and the location of his internment while in Sweden. Inside the church, a massive lead memorial was erected on a pillar. It features the face of the philosopher, along with a globe that is symbolically having its veil removed by an angel.

Know Before You Go

The church is accessible during the day and photography is allowed.

Atlas Obscura Trips

Rewilding: Tracking Wolves in the Forests of Sweden

Explore Sweden’s boreal forests by day and hear the howling of wild wolves by night.
Sponsored by Tastemade
philosophy graves burial places
Nearby
Olof Palme Memorial Plaque
0.13 miles
Stockholm Meteorological Station
0.31 miles
Stockholm Observatory
0.32 miles
Want to see fewer ads? Become a Member.
Near This Place
Stockholm, Sweden

Olof Palme Memorial Plaque

A golden plaque marks the site of the mysterious unsolved assassination of the former Swedish prime minister.
Stockholm, Sweden

Stockholm Meteorological Station

One of the world's oldest continuously operating meteorological stations sits on a hill in Stockholm.
Stockholm, Sweden

Stockholm Observatory

When this 18th-century observatory's meridian was moved, it set Sweden's time back by 0.04 seconds.
Stockholm, Sweden

'Två Myror' ('Two Ants')

Enormous ants wielding giant pine needles guard a Stockholm real estate company's office.
Related Places
Cambridge, England

Ascension Parish Burial Ground

The graveyard with the highest IQ in Britain.
Arlington, Virginia

Mary Randolph Gravesite

Recorded as the first person buried in Arlington Cemetery.
Richmond, Virginia

The Grave of Oderus Urungus

Memorial stone for GWAR vocalist, depicted in his iconic costume.
Hagalund, Sweden

The Unmarked Grave of Christer Pettersson

Not far from where one of the most famous Swedes of all time is buried, an infamous man was put to rest.
Want to see fewer ads? Become a Member.
From Around the Web