Gartenfriedhof, 18th-century cemetery in Mitte, Germany
Gartenfriedhof is a historic cemetery in Mitte featuring about 364 preserved gravestones created between 1741 and 1864. The grounds display classical and romantic monument styles arranged as a garden landscape.
The cemetery was founded in 1741 when Hannover authorities purchased land outside Aegidienthor to serve the local gardening community. It grew into a significant burial ground that operated for over a century.
The gravestones display symbolic carvings such as serpents, butterflies, and torches that reflect how people of the time understood death and the afterlife. Walking through the grounds, you see how these visual elements created a shared language for remembering the dead.
A bronze plaque map at the entrance helps visitors navigate to the main graves and significant monuments. The peaceful setting allows for leisurely exploration at your own pace.
The grounds hold the graves of astronomer Caroline Herschel, who made important celestial observations, and Charlotte Buff, who inspired the character Lotte in Goethe's novel. These two notable women from different fields remain connected to the city's cultural memory.
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