Do you see that imposing Trauerhalle? That grand hall dates back to 1939. Its dark wood carvings are quite striking. This is the Hauptfriedhof Oberursel. It’s more than just a resting place. It’s a chapter in Oberursel’s history.
Hauptfriedhof Oberursel offers diverse burial options. Families carefully choose their final resting places here. Many prominent Oberursel residents found their final peace here. Among them are former mayor and honorary citizen Josef Füller. The prominent German politician and social reformer Rudolf Schwander is also buried here. His family rests alongside him. Former Hessian Interior Minister Ekkehard Gries found his eternal rest here too. So did former state representative Rudolf Kurtz.
The history of Hauptfriedhof Oberursel stretches back centuries. Before this cemetery existed Oberursel’s old cemetery was already filled to capacity. The old cemetery situated near St Ursula’s Church was inadequate. So the Hauptfriedhof Oberursel opened offering a much-needed solution.
The Kreuzkapelle or Chapel of the Holy Cross stands as a testament to resilience. Built in 1618 it commemorates a devastating plague. Originally a simple chapel it underwent a significant transformation in 1718. The remodel incorporated an upper gallery and enclosed the previously open entrance area. The Mainz diocese’s archiepiscopal cross adorns its roof turret.
A unique feature is the Kreuzallee or Way of the Cross. This path along Adenauerallee and Frankfurter Landstraße showcases seven stations of the Way of the Cross via crosses. Vicar Nikolaus Kirsch’s donation funded its creation in 1712. The path begins with a barely legible inscription on a 1723 cross. It ends with a remarkably preserved 1739 cross. Originally part of the cemetery this cross now rests in a nearby park. A small Marian chapel once stood in the middle of the Kreuzallee. Sadly it was demolished in 1904. This unfortunate event was necessary to create space for the Gordon-Bennett Cup.
The large Calvary Hill is situated at the heart of Hauptfriedhof Oberursel. Tradition places its construction at the beginning of the 17th century. The crosses on its pedestal were likely renewed in 1802.
Hauptfriedhof Oberursel is more than a cemetery. It is a living monument to Oberursel’s history. It’s a place of quiet reflection and remembrance. A place where stories of the past continue to whisper among the graves. Take a moment to contemplate the lives lived and the legacies left here. The Hauptfriedhof Oberursel awaits.