- Source: Hauptfriedhof Mainz
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
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).
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. The cemetery became the model for the Cimetière du Père-Lachaise in Paris.
The Hauptfriedhof was first a square ground of about eleven morgen that was expanded several times. It has now an area of 22 hektar, 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
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, and Deutscher Ehrenhof honorary graves. 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.
= Graves of notable people
=The Hauptfriedhof holds the graves of important Main personalities: scientists, industrialists, musicians, writers, politiciana and people of the Mainz carnival.
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
Jockel Fuchs (1919–2002), mayor 1965 to 1987
Adam Henkell (1801–1866), sekt producer (Henkell & Co.)
Karl Holzamer (1906–2007), philosoph, founding Intendant of ZDF
Christian Adalbert Kupferberg (1824–1876), merchant, founder of Kupferberg-Sektkellerei
Franz Konrad Macké (1756–1844), Mainz Maire 1793 and 1800–14, mayor 1831–34
Franz Schott (1811–1874), mayor 1865 to 1871, music publisher
Fritz Straßmann (1902–1980), chemist, one of the pioneers of nuclear fission
Philipp Veit (1793–1877), painter
Gallery
References
Further reading
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
"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.