Cimetière Nord

Beneath the rustling leaves of the trees at Cimetière Nord, a story unfolds. This isn’t just a cemetery. It’s a sprawling garden, a park of remembrance stretching across 18 hectares. Cimetière Nord, Strasbourg’s largest cemetery, offers a unique experience. Established in 1917, it breaks from the traditional French cemetery design. It embraces a more Germanic approach, inviting visitors to stroll and reflect amidst nature’s embrace. Imagine a tranquil park, not rows of cold stone. At the heart of Cimetière Nord lies a large, reflective body of water. Around it, a formal French garden unfolds. Long, tree-lined paths meander through vast lawns, offering shade and solace. Benches and a fountain provide quiet spots for contemplation. Hedges define the burial plots, where monuments stand amongst roses, conifers, and vibrant perennials. These “plantations of remembrance” soften the harshness of grief. The cemetery’s design is the work of Fritz Beblo, Strasbourg’s chief architect from 1903 to 1918. Beblo’s neoclassical style is evident in the striking yellow building that graces the water’s edge. This grand structure, with its imposing columns, houses the city’s first crematorium. Built at a time when cremation was still a taboo for Catholics, its existence speaks to a changing era. This building, a point of reflection and contemplation, has even caught the eye of filmmakers. Director Xavier Palud used Cimetière Nord as a backdrop for scenes in his series “Intrusion”. Some say the building evokes a Florentine air. Others admire the view it offers of the European quarter, with the European Parliament peeking above the hedges. Cimetière Nord is more than just a resting place. It’s a living testament to Strasbourg’s history and its people. Notable figures like Hans Haug, former director of Strasbourg’s museums, are buried here. Haug, the creator of the gothic garden at the Œuvre Notre-Dame, left his mark on the city’s cultural landscape. A section known as the Struthof Square serves as a poignant reminder of the victims of Nazi atrocities. Cimetière Nord is a place of peace, remembrance, and reflection.