Do you want to know more about family plots and old graveyards? I just have to note that if one ever happens to be in Berlin, Germany then the Dorotheenstadt Cemetery should not be missed. This remarkable burial ground has historical importance and has many beautiful graves of the famous people. Now let’s take a closer look at what exactly makes the Dorotheenstadt Cemetery unique!
Location and History
The place where the Dorotheenstadt Cemetery exists is in the center of today’s capital of Germany, Berlin, in the district called Mitte. The cemetery was founded in 1763 and became of the oldest cemeteries of Berlin. This rather quiet zone occupies about 17 hectare and is located between Chausseestraße, Friedrichstraße, and Liesenstraße.
In the beginning, the cemetery was the burial ground of Dorotheenstadt, a neighborhood that gave it its name. Later in history, it was to be the common graveyard for many famous musicians, poets, artists, scientists, and politicians.
The Grave Sites of Celebrity People
Dorotheenstadt Cemetery is popular because many tombstones are placed of the cultural and historical figures of Germany. Some notable individuals buried here include:
- Bertolt Brecht: Prominent playwright and poet who authored the “ Three Penny Opera’.
- Heinrich Mann: Famous novelist, the elder brother of Thomas Mann known for Nobel Prize.
- Christa Wolf: This is an influential author and a perfect subject for the insights and overviews concerning East German literature.
- Friedrich Schleiermacher: Christian scholar involved as a major figure in the development of modern Protestantism.
- Max Delbrück: A Nobel Prize-winning biologist and one of the science field’s key founders, the molecular genetics field.
These are only a few of many eminent personalities buried at Dorotheenstadt Cemetery. Visiting graves and placing a wreath at these celebrated people is quite an interesting undertaking.
Lost City of the Jungle – Importance to Architecture and Art
While the Dorotheenstadt Cemetery will always remain an important site in historical and cultural terms, the place cannot but be impressive due to architectural and artistic ornaments. There are many other fascinating tombs or grave installations Like tombstones and monuments are seen. Types of furniture in the stores include; neo – classical, neo – art, modern furniture among others.
Visitors cannot afford to miss the Old Guard House which is in a memorial form and has urns representing Karl Friedrich Schinkel and Heinrich Gentz. This neoclassical building which houses the administration of the cemetery was also built by Karl Friedrich Schinkel.
Tips for Visiting
If you’re planning a visit to the Dorotheenstadt Cemetery, here are a few tips to make the most of your experience:
- In case you attend the cemetery during a burial, make sure to wear comfortable shoes because the area might need you to walk a little.
- Cemeteries may also be charted so that you could directly find an individual grave or you could attend a tour for a deeper search.
- Remember to always observe the quiet, seriousness of this place.
- It is recommended to travel and plan a tour around enjoying the spectacular view of the foliage in the spring or in the autumn .
- As much as it is morbid to think about, people spend a lot of time designing their tombstones and monuments.
In the meaning of finding its identity the Dorotheenstadt Cemetery can be said to be a historical, artistic and cultural institution. Most of them provide an interesting insight into the lives of powerful people from different sectors. Walking through Out this remarkable cemetery will not only add knowledge of the German culture though but add a reflective peace to your day.
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