Alter Friedhof (Old Cemetery), Bonn

The Old Cemetery is a historically rich green space spanning approximately 1.2 hectares. Founded in 1715, it was the first burial site created beyond Bonn’s medieval city walls to address the overcrowding of church graveyards. Visitors can admire funerary sculptures by renowned 19th-century artists through guided tours, often offered in spring and summer.

Over the years, the cemetery evolved into the burial place of several prominent individuals from Bonn’s cultural and scientific history. Notable graves include those of composer Robert Schumann and his pianist wife Clara, Maria Magdalena van Beethoven-mother of the famed composer-and also the physician and humanitarian Mildred Scheel, founder of the German Cancer Aid.

The layout of Alter Friedhof is a blend of English-style landscaped gardens and formal burial plots. It has evolved through several expansions in the 19th century, reflecting shifts in cemetery culture and design. Notably, the historic Chapel of Saint George, dating from the Romanesque period, was relocated here in the mid-1800s, adding an architectural highlight.