Friedhof Unterliederbach

In 1890, Friedhof Unterliederbach opened its gates, a tranquil sanctuary nestled near the bustling Main-Taunus-Zentrum in Frankfurt. Originally, the residents of Unterliederbach were laid to rest by the old village church. However, by 1872, the need for a larger burial ground led to the establishment of Friedhof Unterliederbach. The cemetery, enclosed by a wall, spans a modest half-hectare. Today, only 90 graves remain, each a silent testament to lives lived. Sixteen of these weathered tombstones, bearing names like Reccius, Pfeiffer, Kern, and Wagner, are protected landmarks. One can still see a piece of the old surrounding wall at the grave of Johann Berring, a former mayor of Unterliederbach. A curious fact about Friedhof Unterliederbach is its location beneath the A66 Autobahn. Once the vibrant Elisabethenstrasse, the road was transformed, leaving the cemetery tucked away, almost forgotten. The last burial took place in 1975. Even the cemetery’s Trauerhalle (mourning hall) was demolished in the 1980s. Despite its quiet existence, Friedhof Unterliederbach gained recognition in 2001, becoming a protected historical site. Now, the Heimat- und Geschichtsverein Unterliederbach (local history association) and Frankfurt’s Grünflächenamt (Green Spaces Department) jointly care for this hidden gem. Although no longer an active burial ground, Friedhof Unterliederbach holds a unique place in Frankfurt’s history. It stands as a poignant reminder of a bygone era, a peaceful oasis amidst the modern landscape, where the whispers of the past linger beneath the rumble of the autobahn above.