To Be or Not to Be Dark? Tourists’ Voices on Visiting the Hill Church Cemetery, Sighișoara (Romania)

Sighișoara, dominated by iconic sights such as the Clock Tower and the legend of Dracula, is complemented by the lesser-known Hill Church Cemetery. The lack of academic information dedicated to cemetery tourism in Romania motivated a detailed analysis of this cemetery. Our study is based on the analysis of comments on online platforms (TripAdvisor, Google Maps) using the Leximancer program. The results reveal a counterintuitive picture of the cemetery. Unlike other dark attractions, the Hill Church Cemetery stands out for its unique, relaxing and peaceful atmosphere, devoid of negative feelings. Its transformation into a garden cemetery has diluted the dark tourism label, making it an attractive destination for a wide range of visitors. Our research contributes to a better understanding of cemetery tourism in Romania and of the tourism potential of the Hill Church Cemetery

Christianity · Narrative · Memory, Trauma, and Commemoration · Museums and Cultural Heritage · Religious Tourism and Spaces