Südfriedhof (South Cemetery), Leipzig

Leipzig's South Cemetery, spanning 78 hectares, is not only the largest cemetery complex in Leipzig but also one of the most beautiful park cemeteries in Germany. Celebrating its 130th anniversary in 2016, this historical site was marked by cultural events, guided tours, and lectures. Designed by city planning officer Hugo Licht and garden director Otto Wittenberg, the cemetery's layout takes the form of a linden leaf, referencing Leipzig's original Slavic name, "The place where the lime trees stand," and aligning with Art Nouveau principles to create a harmonious artistic environment.

The cemetery's centerpiece is the crematorium, built between 1907 and 1909 by Otto Wilhelm Scharenberg. This structure, along with two smaller chapels and the prominent 63-meter-high bell tower, forms a visually striking complex. The chapels serve various purposes: the eastern chapel, shaped like a cross, was intended for denominational services, while the western chapel was used for secular events. The architectural design of the complex draws inspiration from the Benedictine monastery of Maria Laach, with mourning halls and connected corridors resembling a Greek cross.

Noteworthy elements of the South Cemetery include its rich green spaces, designed to serve as ecological niches for flora and fauna. Among these are protected oat meadows near the west entrance and around 9,000 rhododendrons, which bloom spectacularly each May. The cemetery is also a resting place for numerous prominent Leipzig figures, such as the Baedecker and Ullstein publishing families, poet Lene Voigt, and Christian Fürchtegott Gellert. Additionally, gravestones of high artistic value by sculptors like Max Klinger, Carl Seffner, and Walter Arnold are preserved, adding to the site's historical and aesthetic significance. Listed gravestones from the late 19th and early 20th centuries further underscore the cemetery's rich cultural heritage.