Walking Tour

The Jewish Cemetery of Altona Königstrasse

Chiseled in Stone: 150 years of Jewish life in Hamburg/Altona

Details:

Obscured from the street by lofty trees with dense foliage and a metal and brick fence, the Jewish Cemetery of Altona is one of Hamburg’s hidden gems. Founded in 1611 and covering just under two hectares, the cemetery is considered one of the most important Jewish burial grounds in the world, not only because of its size and age, but also because of the cultural and historical significance of the numerous gravestones. The cemetery is actually two: the Sephardic cemetery, founded by Jewish immigrants from Portugal, and the Ashkenazi cemetery, founded by German Jews and immigrants from Eastern Europe and Russia. Both cemeteries were closed in 1869 when Jews were allowed to be buried in Ohlsdorf or other locations. Although the National Socialists and the Allied bombings left their destructive marks on the cemetery, more than 8,100 gravestones still remain (some only as fragments). The Jewish Cemetery at Altona Königstrasse has been a registered historical monument since 1960 and is currently under review to become a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The 90-minute tour will be given in English by a docent from the Hamburg Museum Service. The tour will explain the evolving history of Jews in Hamburg and Altona from the 17th through the 20th centuries. The distinct cultural, artistic, and historical backgrounds of Portuguese (Sephardic) and German (Ashkenazi) Jews, which are reflected in the ornamental décor and inscription on the gravestones, will be explained.

Registration:

Registration is limited to 20 people. We expect a lot of interest in this tour, so we are starting by opening the event to AWCH members only. If there is still space as of 1 November, we can then open it to family members.

Cost: 10 Euros per person, which covers the tour guide and tip. Money should be transferred at the time of registration to the AWCH bank account (IBAN: DE75 2069 0500 0000 9117 71) with the reference “Cemetery Tour”.

As per the AWCH cancellation policy, you have until Tuesday, Nov. 2nd to cancel your attendance without being charged. After this date, or in the event of a no show, you will still be required to pay 10€ into the club account unless a substitute is found.

If the event is already full, and you are interested in joining this (or a second booking of the tour), please send an email to Diana P.S. at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to be put on the waiting list. Feel free to contact Diana with any questions.