Note: This is out of order of our travels since I forgot to send it before moving on to the Isle of Man visit - oops!
This is a focus post contains many photos of the Ohlsdorf Cemetery in Hamburg. If that doesn't sound interesting, I would skip it. 👋
The Ohlsdorf Cemetery is the largest rural cemetery in the world and the fourth-largest cemetery in the world. The western part of the cemetery was designed by architect Johann Wilhelm Cordes as a landscape park and opened in 1877.
In Hamburg, the Ohlsdorf Cemetery stands as more than just a resting place—it is a quiet monument to history, art, and reflection, a sprawling sanctuary where time feels suspended.
At nearly 400 hectares, Ohlsdorf is the largest non-military cemetery in the world. More than 1.5 million souls have found their place here since its founding in 1877, yet its pathways are rarely somber.
The wide avenues, shaded by towering trees, invite walkers, cyclists, and even the occasional artist searching for inspiration. It is not uncommon to see families strolling through, as if it were any other park.
The gravestones range from the simple to the spectacular. Some are humble markers, worn with time and softened by moss. Others—intricate sculptures, grand mausoleums—stand as silent tributes to Hamburg’s industrialists, poets, and pioneers.
We had never seen anything like it so we took our time walking amongst the history. 🪦
