Eerily beautiful cemeteries in Berlin that invite you to reflect

There are lots of cemeteries in Berlin! No wonder, given the large number of people who live and unfortunately also die here. Walking through the resting places or resting on them may seem a little macabre in many places, but it is quite normal, especially in Berlin. They are perfect for a quiet and contemplative stay, undisturbed by the otherwise omnipresent noise of a metropolis. These special cemeteries are absolutely worth a visit!

Dorotheenstädt Cemetery

One of many celebrity cemeteries in the big city, albeit one of the smallest in the whole city. It was laid out in 1762 and expanded over the decades. Because of the high … density of celebrities, you can expect to find lots of impressive graves here , often in the form of mausoleums. In addition to Bertold Brecht and his wife Helene Weigel, the philosopher Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel and the famous architect Karl Friedrich Schinkel were also buried here. The burial chapel, which houses a light installation by the American artist James Turrell, is also fascinating. It illuminates the chapel and the surrounding cemetery in dim neon light, creating a very special atmosphere. Visits to the chapel are offered at sunset, where you can admire the fading daylight in combination with the artificial lights inside! You can get tickets here.

Cemeteries in Berlin: Pappelallee

In the middle of Prenzlauer Berg lies a rather hidden little cemetery park with a special flair. The narrow green strip runs between two houses and connects two streets. However, the exit to Lychener Straße is usually closed to prevent through traffic. Here you can expect … not much and therein lies its magic. In addition to trees, meadows and a few gravestones, it is a wonderful place to relax.

Cemeteries in front of Hallesches Tor

In the early 18th century, six cemeteries were laid out directly in front of the former gates of Old Berlin; one for each parish in the area. Due to their considerable age, the cemeteries are in an enormously romantic state. Graves are overgrown with heavy blankets of moss, noble stone plaques are covered in moss and lichen. The ravages of time have left their mark here, and the cemetery itself is a memento mori. Among others, the famous composer Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy is buried here.

Invalids’ Cemetery

The Invalidenfriedhof c emetery near the main train station is more majestic and at least visually louder. Covering an area of 2.5 hectares, it is not only one of the largest but also one of the oldest and most historic in the city. In addition to the graves of prominent officers and senior civil servants, a part of German history also took place here. A section of the Berlin Wall ran right across the cemetery grounds and unfortunately divided Berliners even in death.

Jewish cemetery on Schönhauser Allee

Surrounded by an inconspicuous yet beautiful wall of red brick and inconspicuous residential buildings, our next resting place is almost hidden in the Berlin cityscape. The adjacent path, known as the Judengang, is also hidden and is the subject of several myths. On the one hand, it is assumed that the path was laid out for burial rites. On the other hand, the rumor persists that it was only built because Emperor Friedrich Wilhelm III did not want to attend any burials on his way to Pankow. Today, the corridor is no longer accessible, which of course only fuels its mythical status.

The cemetery itself is the final resting place of many Jewish personalities, such as the businessman and patron James Simon, after whom a house on Museum Island was named. A memorial at the cemetery commemorates the victims of Nazi crimes.

Grunewald-Forst cemetery

Hidden in the depths of the Grunewald forest lies a rather small and decidedly idyllic cemetery, which was established in the late 19th century. At the time, it was popularly known as the suicide cemetery or the cemetery of the nameless. These very ominous names are due to the fact that a large number of corpses from the adjacent Havel were buried here. At that time, “mortal sinners” were still denied burial in Christian cemeteries, which is why an independent resting place was created here. To this day, very simple gravestones, steles and a few crosses bear witness to this.