Consider this: a peaceful park. It is a place of rest. It is a testament to Bonn’s rich history. This is the Friedhof Poppelsdorf. It stands as one of Bonn’s oldest cemeteries still in use.
Established in 1798 by the Saint Sebastian Parish of Poppelsdorf, the Friedhof Poppelsdorf was consecrated in 1800. The cemetery began as a small plot at the northern foot of the Kreuzberg. It expanded throughout the 19th century. This was due to the growing population.
In 1884, the Old Cemetery closed. Families wanted to bury their loved ones close by. Many Bonn families chose the Friedhof Poppelsdorf. This led to a law in 1903/4. It allowed Bonn citizens living west of the Cologne-Koblenz railway to be buried here.
In 1897 and 1898, the cemetery expanded west of Stationsweg. A new entrance was built from Servitenweg. A building for administration arose in 1901. The Friedhofskapelle was built in 1928. An urn grove was added in 1907.
The Friedhof Poppelsdorf has a beautiful hillside location below the Kreuzberg Chapel. This gives it a special charm. The site has expanded over time. It now resembles a park from the 19th century. The graves reflect the development of Poppelsdorf and Bonn.
Since 1984, a large part of the Friedhof Poppelsdorf has been under monument protection. The Friedhof Poppelsdorf is divided into two sections. One section heads toward Venusberg. The other goes toward Kreuzberg. Stationsweg cuts through the area. It is a historic path to the chapel.
Many important people from Bonn rest here. This includes professors from the University of Bonn. Friedrich August Kekulé von Stradonitz is here. He was a chemist and rector. Friedrich Prym rests here. He was a mathematician. The industrialist Friedrich Soennecken is buried here. Also, the newspaper publishers Peter and Hermann Neusser rest here.
Many artists created gravestones here. Rudolf Bosselt made the Zuntz stone relief. Carl M. Geiling created the Kraemer bronze relief. Joseph Hammerschmidt designed the “Last Shift” for Laute. Ferdinand Hartzer sculpted the Murmann angel. Albert Küppers made plaques for several people. Jakobus Linden created the Pietà for Linden and the angel for Metzmacher.
Three artists are buried in the Friedhof Poppelsdorf. They are Albert Küppers, Jakobus Linden, and Ingeborg von Rath. The Friedhof Poppelsdorf is more than a burial ground. It is a place where art, history, and nature come together. It offers a peaceful space for reflection. It connects us to the past. It honors those who helped shape Bonn. As you wander through the Friedhof Poppelsdorf note the stories etched in stone. Remember the lives celebrated here.