Could you imagine that this peaceful place was once a site of public execution? Welcome to the Nordfriedhof in Bonn. It is the city’s largest cemetery. It covers 22 hectares. The Nordfriedhof wasn’t always a place of rest. Before 1884 this land was Bonn’s execution site. For over 600 years criminals met their end here. The area was even called Schindanger. This is where executed criminals were buried.
The Nordfriedhof became necessary because the Alte Friedhof was full. It could not be expanded. So, the city chose this distant plot for a new cemetery. The location wasn’t popular at first. People preferred closer cemeteries. There was no public transport. Things improved in 1906. A train line to the south entrance made access easier.
Initially, it was named Neuer Friedhof which means new cemetery. In 1912, when Dottendorf Friedhof opened it became the Südfriedhof which means south cemetery. This burial ground became the Nordfriedhof. The Nordfriedhof was not consecrated. Each grave was individually blessed. This was done by the Catholic priest from Graurheindorf. People of all faiths except Jewish citizens were buried here.
Ludwig von Noel, Bonn’s city architect, designed it. He envisioned a park cemetery. The oldest part shows this design. A main path led from the entrance to the chapel. Curved paths and gardens lined the way. There were 15000 grave sites. The curved paths and star-shaped layout behind the chapel no longer exist.
The Nordfriedhof has grown over time. It started at eight hectares. It expanded in 1900, 1946, and 1979. The first expansion doubled its size. It matched the old section’s style. After World War II more space was needed. The graves were placed closer together. The Eselsweg to Bornheim later named Antilopenweg was partly integrated. This changed the path layout.
In 1979, the expansion included land beyond Antilopenweg. This area belonged to Buschdorf. The oldest structure is the partially preserved gatekeeper’s house. It predates the Nordfriedhof. It served as a hunting lodge.
Since 1988, there is a field for anonymous urn burials. A monument with four standing steles marks it. This was erected in 1989. Since 1990, there has been a separate burial ground for Muslim citizens. Initially men, women, and children were buried separately here.
The Sterntalerfeld was created in 2003. It offers parents a place to bury their “star children”. These are children who died shortly before, during, or after birth. The original entrance gate on Kölnstrasse had a Neo-Romanesque design. In 1962, Kölnstrasse became an avenue. The entrance gate was mostly torn down. The cemetery wall was rebuilt.
The Neo-Romanesque chapel dates back to the late 19th century. It features brickwork, a sandstone facade, and a bell tower. Side extensions were added in the 1960s. The chapel sustained minor damage during World War II. Its form was preserved.
During World War I the dead were buried in the eastern part of the Nordfriedhof. This became the Ehrenfriedhof. Over 2000 World War II victims are buried here. They lie under stone pillows and upright stone crosses. The Ehrenfriedhof is shaped like an apse. It features a tall oak cross. The Bonn memorial stands in front of it since 1980. It was moved from the Hofgarten. A memorial service for violence victims takes place here on Volkstrauertag which is a day of national mourning.
The Nordfriedhof holds interesting tombstones from the late 19th century. These reflect the gravestone art of that era. They are in the oldest section between the main entrance and the chapel. Many gravestones along the main path are gone. This happened because the path was widened. However, some remain. These include Joseph Henrion’s monument and the Keutmann family tomb. Also, there is the Linden tomb with a Christus statue by Wilhelm Fassbinder.
Simpler graves of famous people are found throughout the Nordfriedhof. The aviation pioneer Bruno Werntgen who died in an accident is buried here. Also, Johannes Klais the founder of the Klais organ factory rests here. Ludwig Rickert a former mayor of Bonn is buried here as well. The Persian actor Fereydoun Farokhzad and the founders of the Junge Theater Bonn, Helmut Tromm and Heidi Scholz-Tromm, are buried here. The grave of the Bonn painter Karl Nonn was removed in the late 1960s.
The Nordfriedhof is more than a cemetery. It is a journey through Bonn’s history. It reflects changing burial practices and artistic styles. It connects us to the lives of those who shaped the city. As you wander through this green space remember its past. The Nordfriedhof is a place of remembrance and reflection.