Did the year 1899 hold a special significance for Freiburg? It marked the completion of the Alte Einsegnungshalle in the Hauptfriedhof. This isn’t the current Einsegnungshalle you see before you. This is the site of its predecessor, the Alte Einsegnungshalle. The original hall, designed by Thoma and Stammnitz, was a marvel. Imagine a Greek cross forming its foundation, rising into a 33-meter high dome, capped with gleaming copper. A copper lantern, holding a bell and a cross, crowned the structure. This Alte Einsegnungshalle served the city for decades, a solemn place for final farewells. It bore witness to the grief and remembrance of Freiburg’s citizens. The hall also saw darker times. During World War II, bombs rained down upon the Hauptfriedhof. The Alte Einsegnungshalle, though damaged, survived. Repairs in the postwar period and a later renovation in 1982 addressed the visible scars. Yet, some telltale signs, like slight deformations and cracks, remained. Sadly, the original dome met its end in 1963. Crumbling plaster and falling masonry necessitated its removal. This marked a significant change to the Alte Einsegnungshalle’s profile. Even though the original structure is gone, its story lingers here. This spot holds the echoes of funerals past, a testament to Freiburg’s history and the enduring cycle of life and loss. The Alte Einsegnungshalle might be gone, but its memory, like the spirits it sheltered, remains.
Straßenwalze
Picture this a relic of Freiburg’s past. A Straßenwalze a road roller sits before you. Its iron frame speaks of