Totenhagen - Stories of life and death in historic Korbach

Opening in September 2024!The Totenhagen is currently closed due to construction work!Created in 1588, Totenhagen is the oldest surviving cemetery in the city of Korbach. Following its completion, the churchyards around the parish churches of St. Kilian (Historic Old Town) and St. Nikolai (Historic New Town) were abandoned. The oldest surviving tombstones date from the early 18th century.The name "Hagen", or "enclosure", comes from the location of the site in the "enclosed" area between the two city walls. The "Totenhagen" is divided into a northern and southern half by the Lengefelder Gate. This is one of five double gates in the city walls. These gates no longer exist. Directly to the north of the Lengefelder Gate there used to be a chapel, the so-called "Hagenkirche". It stood for more than 200 years and was the cemetery chapel. Built in the period from 1615 to 1628 it was demolished in 1833.The Totenhagen served as the city cemetery for Korbach until the modern cemetery was opened on the Sachsenberger Landstraße in 1939. Nevertheless, burials were regularly carried out until the 1950s, but only in individual cases as guaranteed by "grandfather protection." The last funeral took place in 2009.At the beginning of 2011, the Totenhagen was finally closed for burials. Once all of the burial rest periods have elapsed, it will be de-dedicated in 2034.