In the Aa river valley on the edge of the old town, an old cemetery and a former gardening site developed into the modern Aawiesenpark, which now covers around 4.5 hectares. Together with the municipal and Jewish cemeteries, it forms a central inner-city green space.

The oldest Herford cemeteries are located on the dunes and low terraces of the River Aa. The Jewish cemetery was opened as early as 1680. It is considered one of the oldest Jewish cemeteries in Germany. The first communal cemetery to be laid out by the town was the so-called "Old Cemetery" in 1808. It was significantly extended to the south in 1873. No burials have taken place in the "Old Cemetery" since 1874. Burials still take place in the extension area and in the Jewish cemetery to this day. In addition to the old trees, both sites impress with their typical graves.

Buildings and features

Today, an almost 6-metre-high war memorial stands in a clearing, which was built in 1879 and was originally erected on the Alter Markt. It commemorates those who died in Prussia's wars against Denmark (1864) and Austria (1866) as well as the Franco-Prussian War in 1870 and 1871. Numerous graves and obelisks date back to the Historicism period.

Several Renaissance and Baroque funerary monuments stand out. They were moved here from the former burial ground at the Minster Church.

Type of green space

Modern city park, historic cemetery.

History of creation and development

In 1957, the "Old Cemetery" was transformed into a public green space.

After the Second World War, extensive allotments were created on the adjacent areas along the course of the River Aa. Most of them had to make way for the new vocational school center built by the district of Herford in the 1970s. After a nursery located between the school center and the old town ceased operations in 1986, the further use of the now vacant land was the subject of heated debate in the town. The construction of parking spaces for the vocational school or the extension of the "old cemetery" to a park close to the Aa were discussed. Fortunately, the city council decided in favour of the park so that work could begin on the further design of the park facilities in 1987.

Condition and use at the time of recording

Today, the old cemetery is characterized by old trees, paths bordered by low hedges and over 300 well-preserved gravestones.

The design of the adjoining Aawiesenpark is characterized by extensive meadow areas. Generously laid out, species-rich herbaceous borders stand out in the border areas. A large adventure playground is the main attraction in the park for children and parents. A large, near-natural pond with extensive reed beds corresponds to the location in the floodplain. A slightly elevated rectangular lawn and summer flower area was created at the entrance from the old town. Along the course of the River Aa, it is not far from here to the "green" ramparts of the town.

Source: Aawiesenpark Herford. In: LWL-GeodatenKultur URL: https://www.lwl.org/geodatenkultur/objekt/10039507 (Retrieved: 27.07.2023)

General Information