Alter Friedhof der St.-Jacobi-Kirchengemeinde

In 1852, a quiet plot of land along what is now Karl-Marx-Straße became the final resting place for members of the St.-Jacobi-Gemeinde. This is the Alter Friedhof der St.-Jacobi-Kirchengemeinde. The land was affordable then, due to its sloping terrain and sandy soil. The first burial took place that same year, marking the beginning of the Alter Friedhof der St.-Jacobi-Kirchengemeinde’s long history. Between 1865 and 1866, a mortuary and chapel were constructed. Years later, at the dawn of the 20th century, the construction of the U-Bahn line required a significant portion of the Alter Friedhof der St.-Jacobi-Kirchengemeinde to be sectioned off. This disruptive process led to the demolition of existing buildings and the relocation of numerous graves. Between 1910 and 1913, city architect Reinhold Kiehl redesigned the chapel and administrative building in the style of an ancient Roman temple. These structures flank the entrance from Karl-Marx-Straße, creating a small plaza enclosed by a colonnade leading into the cemetery. The Alter Friedhof der St.-Jacobi-Kirchengemeinde itself maintains a simple design, with uniform pathways. Apart from a single cross along a western path, there are no elaborate adornments. Several graves enclosed by iron fences line the Lindenallee in the eastern section. In 1925, a former gravel pit within this section was transformed into an urn garden, situated about 4 meters below the main level and accessible by terraces. The Alter Friedhof der St.-Jacobi-Kirchengemeinde faced another challenge in 1956 when the widening of Hermannstraße required the cemetery to relinquish 14 meters of its land. This resulted in the felling of 50 trees and the relocation of approximately 3000 graves. Today, the Alter Friedhof der St.-Jacobi-Kirchengemeinde stands as a protected garden monument. It holds the stories of numerous notable figures. Among them are Franz Skarbina, Johannes Bolte, Rudolf Fuess, and Heinrich Kiepert, whose graves hold honorary status. The cemetery’s simple elegance and historical significance offer a quiet retreat amidst the bustling city.