Guided tour of the Melaten cemetery: From the lazar house to the alley of millionaires

Melaten Cemetery, which is over two centuries old, is an oasis of peace and quiet in the midst of this vibrant metropolis. It’s a real jewel among the city’s cemeteries — and because of its parklike design, it’s not merely a burial place and a site of mourning but a very popular place for people who like to stroll. Melaten Cemetery has about 55,000 graves, including those of prominent Cologne citizens such as members of the Millowitsch theatre dynasty, Willi Ostermann, Dirk Bach and the Farina family (the creators of Eau de Cologne). Here you can also find numerous impressive monuments and objects of traditional and contemporary art. From classicist to neogothic and neobaroque grave monuments, symbols and sculptures, there are many individual styles to admire here in their original contexts.