Alter Friedhof, Architectural heritage cemetery in Schwerin, Germany.
Alter Friedhof is an expansive burial ground in Schwerin's Weststadt district that stretches along the southern Obotritzerrings. The grounds feature numerous grave monuments, small chapels, and tree-covered spaces that give it a park-like quality.
The cemetery was founded in 1863 when the city decided to build a new burial ground outside the urban center. This move replaced an older cemetery at the cathedral and marked a shift in how cities planned public burial spaces during the 1800s.
The cemetery contains graves and memorials that reflect how people in Schwerin honored their dead across different periods. Visitors can observe the changing styles of monuments and the names of those who shaped the city's history.
The grounds are walkable and can be explored like a park, with most areas easily accessible on foot. Visitors should know that new burials only occur in existing family plots, so the space functions mainly as a public green area for walking and reflection.
A crematorium built in 1930 sits on the grounds, its Bauhaus design showing how burial practices changed in the 1900s. This building tells the story of shifting ideas about death and remembrance during that era.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
