Old Jewish Cemetery, Hanover

This cemetery in Hanover is a Jewish burial ground with around 700 gravestones spread across a sandy slope and shaded by mature trees. The graves are layered across the terrain, creating a defined space that feels separate from the surrounding city.

Founded in 1550 and used until 1864, this is the oldest remaining Jewish cemetery in Northern Germany. Its survival through centuries of upheaval reflects its deep importance to the community.

The cemetery reflects Jewish tradition of preserving graves permanently and never disturbing them. You can see this respect woven into how the stones are arranged, showing generations of care and remembrance.

Entry is through a side gate on the eastern side, marked by a symbol of the Priestly Blessing above the entrance. The site is walkable, with paths following the natural slope of the terrain.

The cemetery holds graves of several rabbis and community leaders, as well as relatives of poet Heinrich Heine. The oldest preserved gravestone dates from 1654, standing as a record of unbroken continuity.