How about stepping into a realm where art, history, and peaceful reflection intertwine? Welcome to the Friedhof Radebeul West. It is also known as Hauptfriedhof Kötzschenbroda. This is one of Radebeul’s two main cemeteries. It is located in the Kötzschenbroda district at Kötzschenbrodaer Straße 166. The Friedhof Radebeul West primarily serves the Kötzschenbroda and Niederlößnitz districts.
This historic cemetery is a protected monument. It is a significant example of landscape and garden design. The chapel with its adjoining wing, numerous burial sites, and the detached house at Am Gottesacker 33 are all individual landmarks.
Let’s journey back to the 1860s. The old Kötzschenbroda cemetery could no longer accommodate the growing population. A new cemetery was planned east of the town. In 1874, the New Cemetery was inaugurated. Today, it is known as Friedhof Radebeul West. The Old Cemetery primarily served the nearby Diakonissenheim and children.
Originally built in 1873-74 by Moritz Große, the chapel was replaced in 1913. The Kießling brothers constructed a successor building. They expanded the outer walls slightly to create a more spacious interior. This project cost at least 40,000 Mark. Recently restored, the Christusgemälde on the ceiling is likely the work of Georg Richter-Lößnitz.
Initially, the cemetery consisted of sections A through D. It expanded several times. By 1950, it covered 4.1 hectares. Friedhof Radebeul West also includes a war graves section. It contains 92 graves from the end of World War II. This area was renovated in 2012-13.
During the Elbe River flooding in 2013, parts of the cemetery flooded. This included the historic rubble stone retaining wall. To protect the wall and public traffic, a one-way traffic system was implemented on Kötzschenbrodaer Straße. Parts of the wall have since collapsed and require restoration.
The Friedhof Radebeul West is a large green space. It sits between Am Gottesacker and Kötzschenbrodaer Straße. The eastern side merges into agricultural fields. A triangular area extends westward to the intersection of Am Gottesacker and Kötzschenbrodaer Straße. This area includes private residences and the Old Cemetery. The cemetery slopes slightly southeast. A rubble stone wall encloses the area. Gates provide access for pedestrians and the chapel entrance.
The cemetery chapel is on the western edge. The oldest grave fields are to the east. Fields B and A lie on Kötzschenbrodaer Straße. Fields D and C are on Am Gottesacker. A broken wall with large wall tombs borders these four rectangular fields. The fields are separated by the central path from the chapel and the north-south crossing path. The gates are dated 1873.
Past the wall tombs are grave fields F and K. They lie on Kötzschenbrodaer Straße. Fields E and G are toward Am Gottesacker. These fields are also separated by intersecting paths. The gates of this expansion are dated 1888. A triangular area exists between the sloped fields and Am Gottesacker. A residential building stands on the left. Field H is east of the connecting path and north of the outer wall. The three easternmost fields are bordered by another broken wall. Expansion areas transition into the fields beyond.
The chapel faces the cemetery. It has a gabled, tiled roof. An octagonal roof turret stands on top. An apse is at the back of the building. The main entrance is a round-arched portal. Above the portal, the inscription reads “Ich lebe und ihr sollt auch leben”. A stone relief of the resurrected Christ is above the portal. The Kießling brothers’ builder’s mark is to the left of the portal. Tall rectangular windows illuminate the solid plastered building.
Inside, a Rabitz vault forms the ceiling. A gallery spans the width of the nave above the entrance. To the left of the chapel is a long, low utility wing. It features three arcades in the center. A high round-arched gate extends into the tiled roof on the right side. A dormer window illuminates the central arcade.
The residential building at Am Gottesacker 33 dates back to the 19th century. In 1937, the Kießling master builders added a high hipped roof. Many graves are significant for their historical or artistic value. Numerous Kötzschenbroda and Niederlößnitz personalities are buried here.
Notable burials include the magician Wiljalba Frikell, painter Wilhelm Heine, and composer Erwin Thiele. The graves of conductor Ernst von Schuch and writer Emilie Wilhelmine Bertha Behrens are also located here.
The Friedhof Radebeul West is more than just a cemetery. It is a place of remembrance and reflection. It connects us to the past through art, architecture, and the stories of those who rest here. The cemetery’s unique design and historical significance make it a cultural landmark in Radebeul.