German Cemeteries
Germany is home to fascinating cemeteries. While it may not be your bag, it definitely is a different approach to the normal tourist haunts (no pun intended). If you are on your second or third visit, in search of well-known historical figures or just like doing something that is on the quirky side, here are a few places to visit.
Invalidenfriedhof (Berlin)
Originally opened in 1748, Invalidfriedhof is one of the oldest cemeteries in Berlin. Home to military figures spanning over two centuries, the site was also on the border of East & West Berlin. As a result, over a third of the cemetery was destroyed to accomodate the wall and watchtowers. If you look hard enough, reminders of how gunplay was the means by which guards protected the perimeter of the wall can be found. A short walk from Hauptbahnhof, it is a really interesting place to spend an hour or two.
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Dorotheenstadt Cemetery & Französischer Friedhof (Berlin)
The cemeteries can be found on adjoining sites with the Dorotheenstadt being the older of two, consecrated in 1762 to service two Protestant parishes. The French cemetery opened in 1780 for burial place for the descendants of the Huguenots (who had fleed persecution in France). One bonus in visiting the site is the Brecht-Weigel Museum which is right next to the museum. Close to the Natural History Museum U-Bahn station, it’s well worth the wander.
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Schoeneberg III (Berlin)
Also known as Friedhof Stubenrauchstraße, Schöneberg III Cemetery was first opened in 1881. It is known by some as the “artists’ cemetery” due to its proximity to the Wilmersdorf artist colony. Well known graves include actress Marlene Dietrich, German-Australian photographer Helmut Newton & his wife, June Newton. Another feature of the cemetery is the 321 graves to the victims of war & tyranny from both WWI & WWII. A short walk from the Bundesplatz U or S-Bahn station (take your pick from a number of lines), it really is a very serene part of Berlin.
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Melaten Cemetery
With over 55,000 graves, Melaten cemetery is the largest cemetery in Cologne. Not only a burial site, it also doubles as a quiet place to stroll if you are looking for a break from a relatively hectic city. First consecrated in 1810 (due to public decree forbidding burials within city limits), Melaten is home to a range of sculptures, statues, four war memorials (19th & 20th century) and two cemeteries to victims of WWI and the allied bombing during WWII. You can get there via an 8 minute tram ride (1 or 7 tram) from the Neumarket stop.
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Links to other cemeteries of interest in Germany
Waldfriedhof
Munich
Aka as the “forest cemetery”, the site is home to notable figures such as;
- Leni Riefenstahl (Controversial movie director)
- Paul Hamm (Politician & SS victim)
- Werner Heisenberg (1932 Nobel Prize winning Physicist)
A link to a more detailed list of notable people buried here
Weissensee Jewish Cemetery
Berlin
Established in 1880, Weissensee is the second largest Jewish cemetery in Europe. However, in terms of area covered, its 116,000 graves makes it the largest in terms of area.
A memorial to the victims of the holocaust can be found at the entrance to the site as well as other memorials to the victims of National Socialism throughout the cemetery.