Melaten Cemetery is Cologne’s historic central cemetery, a peaceful expanse of tree-lined avenues and elaborate graves in the Lindenthal district. Opened in 1810, it takes its name from a medieval leper hospital once located on the site. Artists, politicians and industrialists are buried here, alongside generations of Cologne families.
A walk through Melaten is also a tour of funerary art, from Gothic Revival chapels and carved angels to ivy-covered family tombs. The Millionaires’ Alley, known locally as Millionärsallee, is especially striking for its monuments to wealthy Cologne families. Mature trees give the cemetery the feel of a park, with autumn bringing colour to its long avenues.
The cemetery is free to enter and can be reached by tram: line 1 stops at Melaten, close to an entrance. Opening hours vary by season, so check them before visiting. Melaten remains an active burial ground; keep noise down and give mourners and funeral gatherings plenty of space.