Alter Garnisonfriedhof Right in the middle and yet so idyllic

Berlin is a treasure trove of discoveries. No matter how long you have lived here, there is always something unknown to discover. I've walked past the long wall on Rosenthaler Straße countless times, but only recently did I take a look behind it. Cemeteries always have a special energy, but here in the middle of the city, with century-old gravestones under tall trees and the magical silence, it is particularly palpable.

The Old Garrison Cemetery ("Alter Garnisonfriedhof") in the Mitte district is the oldest military cemetery in Berlin. It has existed since the founding of Prussia, and only since 1947 has it no longer been used for burials. The old Garrison Church, which once belonged to the cemetery, no longer exists. Like so many other things, it was destroyed during the Second World War and its remains were demolished in 1961. The still-existing administration building at the entrance dates from the middle of the 19th century.

Well-known personalities found their final resting places here, and Berlin sculptors created outstanding grave memorials for them, making the cemetery a gem among Berlin's historic cemeteries. Grave monuments based on designs by Karl Friedrich Schinkel, David Gilly or Friedrich Tieck can be found here. Made in the heyday of Berlin iron casting in the workshops of the Royal Iron Foundry.

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The Alter Garnisonfriedhof became famous beyond Berlin's borders when leading officers around Adolph von Lützow found their final resting place here after 1815. Names such as von Lützow, Knesebeck, von Holtzendorff and F. de la Motte Fouqué can still be found on the gravestones. But their descendants, who gave their lives in the resistance against National Socialism, are also immortalised on the gravestones or in the burial registers.

Whether you are interested in the history of the Alter Garnisonfriedhof or just want to enjoy the unique atmosphere, it is worth a visit. The best time to visit is in the early evening or morning hours, when the sun casts its most beautiful light.

Constanze Hallensleben

Founder Creme Guides