Cimetière juif de Koenigshoffen

The Cimetière juif de Koenigshoffen is a large burial ground with thousands of graves arranged in rows across the site. The tombstones mostly carry Hebrew inscriptions and span from the early 1800s to modern times, creating a record of the community across nearly two centuries.

The cemetery was created in 1801 when Jewish families gained the legal right to establish permanent settlements in Strasbourg. It replaced an older medieval burial site that had been destroyed centuries earlier during a period of community upheaval.

The gravestones display both Hebrew and French inscriptions, showing how the Jewish community took root in this region over centuries. Walking among the stones, you can read the names and symbols that connect families across generations in Strasbourg.

The cemetery is located in a quiet residential area and can be visited, though advance contact with the local Jewish community office is necessary to arrange access. Plan to spend time walking slowly and respectfully, as this is an active place of remembrance and reflection.

In the 1930s, local residents used an unusual method to care for the grounds: they raised rabbits between the graves to keep the cemetery maintained. This surprising practice helped preserve the site through difficult times and remains an intriguing part of the area's past.