Development and design

History

Weissensee Jewish Cemetery: Origins, design, historical features and the present-day character of the cemetery.

On this page

Development of the site

Opened in 1880, the cemetery is regarded as Europe’s largest preserved Jewish cemetery by area. It documents Jewish life in Berlin across several political eras.

Heritage documentation

The Heritage documentation PDF provides further detail on the site’s history, fabric and conservation. This 59-page research report is not a compact visitor map.

Layout and present-day character

Covering about 42 hectares, the grounds bring together a distinctive landscape, funerary monuments and places of remembrance. Historic axes, woodland or park areas and memorials are placed in context on the cemetery tour and cemetery map.

Reading history on site

Memorials, ceremonial halls, vegetation and commemorative areas form part of the historic fabric while remaining sensitive places. Observe closures and funeral ceremonies; individual paths or buildings may be temporarily inaccessible.