Kupfermeisterfriedhof, Cemetery and architectural heritage monument in Stolberg, Germany.
The Kupfermeisterfriedhof is a cemetery and architectural heritage monument in Stolberg with numerous flat gravestones displaying inscriptions and heraldic symbols of copper master families. The site sits on a hillside and preserves the burial grounds of these important craftspeople and their descendants.
The cemetery was established in 1686 as a burial ground for Protestant copper masters who relocated from Aachen to Stolberg due to religious tensions. This migration marked the beginning of the craft tradition that would shape the city's identity.
The gravestones display heraldic designs and family crests of copper master families who shaped the industrial development of the region. These symbols tell the story of craftspeople whose families influenced the area for generations.
The cemetery is open to walk through and see its gravestones in their original locations, though some of the oldest stones have been moved to the nearby Finkenbergkirche church for preservation. Visitors should note this remains an active burial ground where descendants of the copper master families continue to be laid to rest.
Five original gravestones from the 17th century were moved to the Finkenbergkirche and represent some of the finest examples of stonemasonry from that era. These relocated stones offer a valuable window into the technical skills of the craftspeople who carved them.
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