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Leipzig's southern cemetery shines: historic gravesites restored!
On July 3, 2025, Leipzig's environmental mayor praised the restoration work of the Paul Benndorf Society during a tour of the southern cemetery.
Leipzig's southern cemetery shines: historic gravesites restored!
On July 3, 2025, a tour by the city of Leipzig and the Paul Benndorf Society e.V. took place at the Südfriedhof, which offered an impressive journey through the restored tomb art. Environmental Mayor Heiko Rosenthal took part in the event and acknowledged the important work of the Paul Benndorf Society. In recent months, this has extensively restored several gravesites, including those of Leonard Treusch, the royal Saxon court jeweler, Otto Schelper, a Wagner interpreter, and the Stokinger family of glass painters.
The Paul Benndorf Society was founded in 2008 and has been committed to promoting cultural values in the cemetery and monument sector ever since. Since its founding, the society has restored around 60 important examples of tomb art and, with over 300 members, is one of the largest of its kind in the German-speaking region. She has also been running a mourning café at the Südfriedhof for over ten years and actively supports the cemeteries department of the Office for Urban Parks and Waters, which is responsible for another six municipal cemeteries.
Restoration and new burial place
One of the most beautiful news from the field of monument preservation is the imminent completion of the SECUNDUM SEPULCRUM, the second burial site of the Paul Benndorf Society. This tomb has space for 40 graves and was created to preserve the memories of deceased members of society. After a year and a half of preparation, the tomb, made from green Spremberg syenite and designed by the Leipzig sculptor Alfred Frätzel, is now nearing completion. The bronze picture decoration and the bowl with a garland of roses come from Professor Alfredo Neri and were made in the Württemberg metal goods factory.
The tomb itself weighs around five tons. However, in recent years it has suffered significant damage from a storm and an uprooted tree. The Paul Benndorf Society has supported the restoration with significant funds to restore this historic work of art. Master gardener Steffen Schröder will design the new grave field, with the female figure “Mourning” currently being restored.
Alfred E. Otto Paul, who also explained numerous cultural and art historical aspects during the tour, emphasized that the Leipzig South Cemetery is an outstanding park creation by garden director Otto Wittenberg. It is considered an important necropolis that is one of the most important European park cemeteries. The creators of tomb art in the southern cemetery include well-known artists such as Alfred Neri, Josef Limburg, Alois Kolb, Max Lange, Otto Josef Olbertz, Josef Magr and Johannes Hartmann.
In the heart of Leipzig, not only is history preserved, but also a unique heritage is created for future generations that underlines the city's cultural identity. The Paul Benndorf Society is continuing its valuable contribution in this area and will continue to actively promote dialogue about cultural values in the cemetery and monument sector in the coming years.
For further information about the restoration work and the numerous initiatives of the Paul Benndorf Society, read the reports LIZ and the news directly on the website Paul Benndorf Society.