Geusenfriedhof, Protestant cemetery in Lindenthal, Germany.
Geusenfriedhof is a Protestant cemetery in Lindenthal containing roughly 224 preserved burial sites where flat gravestones display Bible verses and symbols representing the deceased's professions and family crests. The grounds show how Protestants chose to bury their dead and expressed their identity through the way they designed their graves.
The cemetery was founded in 1584 and became the first Protestant burial ground in Cologne at a time when Protestants faced persecution and restrictions. Its creation marked a turning point in the city's religious history by finally offering Protestants their own place for the dead.
The gravestones show Protestant design principles with simple forms that deliberately contrast with the elaborate monuments of Catholic cemeteries from that era. This plainness reflects religious beliefs and shapes how the cemetery looks today.
The cemetery is best visited during warmer months when the paths are dry and well-maintained. It is wise to wear comfortable shoes and allow enough time to look at the many gravestones and their details at a relaxed pace.
The name comes from the French word 'gueux', meaning beggars, adopted by Dutch freedom fighters during the Eighty Years' War who sought refuge in Cologne. This link to flight and resistance is echoed in the cemetery's story as a sanctuary for Protestants.
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