Riigiküla Cemetery — the main cemetery serving Narva’s residents
Riigiküla kalmistu is an active cemetery near Narva, set in pine woodland. It primarily serves the residents of Narva, although administratively it belongs to Narva-Jõesuu municipality. The cemetery is located in the village of Peeterristi, in Ida-Viru County.
Location and access
The cemetery lies between Narva and Narva-Jõesuu, beside the Peeterristi–Kudruküla road. There are several entrances, with a large car park near the main entrance.
Before visiting a particular grave, it is useful to check its location. The grounds are extensive, and the entrance closest to the grave may be some distance from the central car park. This is especially important if you are carrying tools, flowers or supplies for tending the plot.
This is Estonia’s longest cemetery, extending for approximately 2 km.
Buildings and shops near the main entrance
During the visit, utility buildings and a room for farewells and religious funeral services were observed near the central car park.
Shops near the main entrance sell cut and artificial flowers. If you plan to buy flowers there, it is best to check the opening hours beforehand.
Water and waste containers
Waste containers and water tanks for watering plants are located at several points around the cemetery. Visitors can water flowers and tidy their family burial plots.
Before starting any cleaning, it is useful to locate the water supply and waste container closest to the grave. In such extensive grounds, this helps you plan how to carry equipment and dispose of the collected waste.
The old and new sections of the cemetery
The grounds can broadly be divided into an old and a new section. In the old section, graves are closely spaced. The passages between individual graves are narrow, making it difficult to move around with tools or materials for maintaining the plots.
The new section extends towards the shore of Riigiküla quarry lake. This part of the cemetery is quite spacious.
History of the cemetery
Reference sources date the founding of Riigiküla Cemetery to 1972. It was established primarily for the burial of Narva’s residents and has expanded over time.
The cemetery is characterised by pine woodland, sandy soil and uneven, sometimes hilly terrain. When looking for a grave, it is useful to refer to the section and plot numbers as well as headstones and trees.
The former Riigiküla sand quarry is now used by local residents as a waterside recreation area. The shoreline provides a prominent landmark in this part of the cemetery.
Notable burials
Valentin Nikolayevich Mokiyevsky (1950–1994)
Narva cartoonist Valentin Mokiyevsky (Valentin Mokijevski), whose work appeared in the Estonian and international press, including the magazines Pikker and Krokodil. His drawings were featured in international exhibitions and competitions.
Ivan Andreyevich Bashmanov (1923–1970)
A Second World War veteran and army captain who was awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union in 1946. His life was connected with Narva both before the war and after his return from the front.
Regina Birk (1911–1999)
A doctor and athlete who was an Estonian cycling champion and record holder in 1930–1931. She worked as a district physician in Narva from 1954 to 1971.
How to find a grave at Riigiküla Cemetery
The Kalmistud.ee portal offers a search by the deceased’s first name and surname, along with an online cemetery map. Before visiting, save the section number, plot number and the grave’s location on the map. If the search returns no results, try alternative spellings of the first name and surname. The absence of a record in the search results does not in itself mean that the person is not buried in the cemetery.
Help with finding and caring for a grave
If you have been unable to locate a family burial plot yourself, Angelio can help by searching the register and visiting the cemetery to confirm the grave’s location visually. Photographs of the located grave are provided to the client.
You can also discuss one-off cleaning or regular grave care at Riigiküla Cemetery. When contacting us, useful details include the deceased’s first name and surname, the plot number, old photographs and any known landmarks.
