Alter Friedhof, Renaissance cemetery in Lutherstadt Eisleben, Germany
Alter Friedhof is a Renaissance burial ground in Lutherstadt Eisleben with two wings whose southern and eastern sections were completed between 1538 and 1560. The site follows the Campo Santo style and preserves both active graves and historical monuments, including the only surviving family vault from 1558.
Founded in 1533 and consecrated by Caspar Güttel, the first Lutheran pastor of Andreas Church, the cemetery represents one of Germany's earliest Campo Santo designs. It stands as a marker of religious changes during the Reformation period in this region.
The cemetery displays works by local artists carved in stone, documenting the lives of prosperous citizens from centuries past. Walking through reveals elaborate monuments that speak to the craftsmanship and values of the people who lived here.
The grounds are open for visitors to walk freely among the graves and historical stone works at their own pace. Exploring both wings systematically helps you discover all the monuments and appreciate their details.
For centuries the cemetery was called Kronenfriedhof because of a custom where funeral crowns were left at graves during burials. This older name is largely forgotten today, though it reveals a distinctive burial practice of that era.
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