Stadtgottesacker, Cemetery in Halle (Saale), Germany

Stadtgottesacker is a cemetery in Halle (Saale), Germany, built from 1557 following the model of Italian Camposanto grounds. It consists of a rectangular layout enclosed by high walls, with a central gatehouse featuring a round archway, a tall tower with small openings, and a dark cupola on top.

In 1529, Cardinal Albrecht ordered the closure of burial grounds inside the city walls, and the new cemetery was laid out on Martinsberg hill from 1557. The gate tower was added in 1590, and after damage in World War II, restoration began in the 1980s and continues with modern reliefs.

The name Stadtgottesacker means "God's acre of the city," a term used for burial grounds in German-speaking regions. Inside, the arcades with their numbered crypts and the central field with family graves show how Halle's upper class once used the site, and today it is a place for walks and remembrance.

The cemetery is open to visitors during daylight hours, and the main entrance is on the west side, facing the city. The ground is mostly flat, but some paths are gravel and may be uneven, so wear comfortable shoes.

The cemetery walls include bastions and loopholes, showing that it also served as part of the city's defenses. Some of the arcade reliefs destroyed in the war have been replaced with modern works by local sculptors, a project recognized with a heritage award.