Could you imagine the stories held within these grounds? Welcome to the Cimetière Sud in Strasbourg. It is more than just a final resting place. The Cimetière Sud is a testament to lives lived and a mirror reflecting the city’s history.
The Cimetière Sud was created in 1800 in a place called Kritt. Initially spanning 11 hectares, it grew in 1912 and again in 1962. Until about 1980, the sole entrance was on Rue du Rhin Tortu. Since its expansion, the main entrance is now on Rue du Baggersee.
Within the Cimetière Sud, rest figures who shaped the Neuhof’s history. Édouard Reuss rests here. He was the father of historian Rodolphe Reuss and a theologian. He was also a member of the Council of State of Alsace-Lorraine. Stéphanien von Wedel, founder of the Stéphanie hospice, also found her final resting place here. Léon Honecker, a painter from the Saint Léonard group, is also buried here.
The war memorial of Strasbourg-Neuhof and Hohwarth stands as a solemn tribute. Sculptors Maechling and Weber created it from variegated sandstone. It was unveiled a century ago in December 1921. A large pink sandstone statue shows Christ welcoming a kneeling woman. Ernest Weber, a Neuhof resident, solely signed this statue. He lived and worked at 15 Rue Riehl. On each side, four tall stelae bear the names of victims from both World Wars. Edouard Stentzel, another Neuhof sculptor, created the more recent stela.
The Cimetière Sud also holds military squares. Here lie the stelae of 135 French soldiers. Around 800 Soviet soldiers who died during World War II also rest here. Additionally, there’s a plot for about sixty soldiers of various nationalities.
Notably, another cemetery exists in Neuhof. It is called Cimetière du Polygone. It was built a century later in 1899.
The City of Strasbourg manages the Cimetière Sud. It also manages the Nord, Saint-Louis, Musulman, Ouest, Polygone, Saint-Urbain, Sainte-Hélène and Saint-Gall cemeteries. Four of these cemeteries are considered “historic”. They are Saint Louis, Saint Gall, Sainte Hélène and Saint Urbain. Four others date from the last century: Polygone, Ouest, Nord and Sud. The Muslim Cemetery opened in 2012.
Access to the cemeteries is subject to rules. Visitors are not allowed in a quarter of an hour before closing. Access outside opening hours is strictly prohibited. Anyone entering a cemetery must behave respectfully. Intoxicated individuals are prohibited. Beggars and street vendors are not allowed. People whose clothing or behavior is disrespectful are banned. Domestic animals are not allowed. Guide dogs for the visually impaired are an exception. Two-wheeled vehicles are prohibited. The only exceptions are vehicles for transporting the deceased. Also, municipal and police vehicles are permitted. Vehicles bringing materials for work are allowed. Disabled or elderly people may be granted exemptions. They need to present a disability card or medical certificate.
Vehicles with authorization must not exceed 10 km/h. They must give way to funeral processions and pedestrians. Vehicle traffic is prohibited on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. Soliciting grieving families is strictly forbidden.
The Cimetière Sud is open to the public from Monday to Sunday, including public holidays. From March 1 to November 2, it is open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. From November 3 to February 28, it is open from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Opening and closing times are posted in each cemetery. It is each visitor’s responsibility to be informed and respect these instructions.
As we leave the Cimetière Sud, remember the stories etched in stone. Each marker represents a life, a memory, a piece of Strasbourg’s soul.