The South Park Erfurt
Place with a memorable past
In the neighborhood of national sporting events
The Südpark is surrounded by a sporty atmosphere. With the Steigerwaldstadion, the Gunda Niemann-Stiernemann Hall, the athletics center and the Roland Mattes swimming pool, the games and training facilities for the state capital's national sporting events are in its immediate vicinity.
The park itself is rather quiet. Sometimes you get the impression of entering a sparse forest in the middle of the city.
In addition to a playground with sports facilities, such as a volleyball court, the South Park is home to two memorials. One is dedicated to Polish citizens who died in surrounding camps during the Nazi era. The second also has a direct connection to this time. A stone with the inscription “Bomb victims of the spring of 1945 rest here” explains the significance of the burial ground with 37 crosses, each with three names.
There used to be a lot more places of remembrance in the Südpark area.
Former cemetery
The site was a cemetery until 1978. From 1871 to 1956, many Erfurters found their final resting place here. But with the establishment of the new main cemetery on Binderslebener Strasse in 1916, it became clear that the “South Cemetery” would not last forever. Today the layout of the paths shows
refers to the former function of today's park.
Conclusion:
Due to its past as a cemetery and the two memorials, the Südpark is a place with a commemorative past. Its simple ambience suits it. The playground and sports field on the northern edge is special. Otherwise, it fulfills its role as an open space in an urban environment solidly, but also without any real special features.
