Hauptfriedhof Mainz
| Hauptfriedhof Mainz | |
|---|---|
 Crematory | |
 | |
| Details | |
| Established | 1803 |
| Location | |
| Country | Germany |
| Coordinates | 49°59′42″N 8°15′0″E / 49.99500°N 8.25000°E |
| Type | Public |
| Size | 22 ha (54 acres) |
The Hauptfriedhof is the main cemetery of Mainz, the capital of Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It was established in 1803 when Mainz was under French administration. It became the model for the Cimetière du Père-Lachaise in Paris. It is the burial place of prominent persons, also the Deutscher Ehrenhof honorary graves. The cemetery is a cultural heritage site and prominent urban green space.
History
[edit]When Mainz was under French administration, cemeteries became rare due to the closing of church institutions. A new Christian cemetery was established in 1803 when Jeanbon St. André was the French préfet of the department of Mont-Tonnerre (Donnersberg).[1][2][3]
Initiated by the mayor, Franz Konrad Macké, it was placed in the Zahlbach valley on former monastery grounds in 1803. It had been a burial site in Roman times. Later, some bishops of Mainz were buried there including Aureus of Mainz.[3] The cemetery became the model for the Cimetière du Père-Lachaise in Paris.[4]
The Hauptfriedhof was first a square ground of about eleven morgen that was expanded several times. It has now an area of 22 hektar,[5] roughly in 75 "fields" in the central part, 14 in the urn grove across Saarstraße. The paths form a grid, with the main paths lined by trees. The cemetery contains old trees and other plants, and is regarded as quality urban green space of Mainz.
Monuments
[edit]
The Hauptfriedhof contains historic graves and monuments, interesting for historians and art historians. There are graves for single people, families, and also groups, including victims of wars, French soldiers,[3][6] and Deutscher Ehrenhof honorary graves.[7] The cemetery features two Gruftenstraßen (grave roads) with high monuments of important Mainzer families. The oldest gravestone dates to 1805. 230 gravestones and monuments are listed historic monuments.[3]
Graves of notable people
[edit]The Hauptfriedhof holds the graves of important Main personalities: scientists, industrialists, musicians, writers, politiciana and people of the Mainz carnival.[3]
Burials include:
- Bernhard Adelung (1876–1943), politician (SPD), mayor of Mainz and minister-president of Volksstaat Hesse
- Jeanbon St. André (1749–1813), French préfet
- Peter Cornelius (1824–1874), composer[3]
- Jockel Fuchs (1919–2002), mayor 1965 to 1987
- Adam Henkell (1801–1866), sekt producer (Henkell & Co.)[3]
- Karl Holzamer (1906–2007), philosoph, founding Intendant of ZDF[3]
- Christian Adalbert Kupferberg (1824–1876), merchant, founder of Kupferberg-Sektkellerei[3]
- Franz Konrad Macké (1756–1844), Mainz Maire 1793 and 1800–14, mayor 1831–34
- Franz Schott (1811–1874), mayor 1865 to 1871, music publisher[3]
- Fritz Straßmann (1902–1980), chemist, one of the pioneers of nuclear fission[3]
- Philipp Veit (1793–1877), painter[3]
Gallery
[edit]-
Jeanbon St. André -
Franz Conrad Macké -
Franz Freiherr Gedult von Jungenfeld -
Peter Cornelius -
Hans Klenk -
Friedrich Kellner -
References
[edit]- ^ Décret Impérial sur les sépultures, le 23 Prairial an XII. In: Bulletin des lois de l'Empire Français. 4e Série, Tome premier no. 1 à 16, Paris, Brumaire an XIII [1804], p. 75.
- ^ "Mehr als "nur" eine Begräbnisstätte / Der Mainzer Hauptfriedhof". Mainz (in German). 2024. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Orte in Mainz, die sich wie Ausland anfühlen". merkurist.de (in German). 31 October 2021. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
- ^ Keinath, Ralf (31 October 2021). "Orte in Mainz, die sich wie Ausland anfühlen". merkurist.de (in German). Retrieved 3 December 2024.
- ^ Hauptfriedhof-Kurzportrait (in German) Mainz
- ^ "Kriegerdenkmäler in Mainz". rheinland-pfalz.volksbund.de (in German). 2024. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
- ^ Deutsch-fanzösische Geschichte auf dem Aureus (in German) Mainz
Further reading
[edit]
- Rupert Krömer, Sabine Theiss-Krömer (eds.): Ort der Stille. Von der Kraft der Endlichkeit. Verborgene Leidenschaften. 200 Jahre Mainzer Aureus – 2000 Jahre Heiliges Tal. Ein Bürgerprojekt. Vitruv Verlag, Mainz 2006, 4th edition 2008, ISBN 3-937562-00-1.
- Wolfgang Stumme: Der Mainzer Hauptfriedhof. Menschen und ihre letzten Ruhestätten. Leinpfad Verlag, Ingelheim 2010, ISBN 978-3-942291-14-9.
- Wolfgang Stumme: Der Mainzer Hauptfriedhof II. Menschen und ihre letzten Ruhestätten. 31 neue Porträts. Leinpfad Verlag, Ingelheim 2013, ISBN 978-3-942291-65-1.
- Hermann Wucher: Historische Führung auf dem Mainzer Hauptfriedhof: Grabstätten bedeutender Persönlichkeiten sowie eine Sammlung erhaltenswerter Inschriften, 3rd edition, Ginsheim-Gustavsburg 2009.
- Alfred Börckel: Der Mainzer Friedhof. Seine Geschichte und seine Denkmäler. Zur Erinnerung an sein 100-jähriges Bestehen. Verlag der Stadt Mainz, Mainz 1903.
- Giebeler, Marcus; Siggemann, Jürgen; Zibell, Stephanie (2012). Grabfeld 71 (in German). Stuttgart: Franz Steiner Verlag Wiesbaden gmbh. ISBN 978-3-515-10105-9.
External links
[edit]- "Hauptfriedhof Mainz". Wo sie ruhen (in German). Retrieved 10 December 2024.
- Kirschstein, Gisela (30 October 2024). "Gruft zu vergeben: Paten für denkmalgeschützte Gräber auf dem Hauptfriedhof Mainz gesucht". Mainz. Retrieved 10 December 2024.