Melaten is the central cemetery of Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, which was first mentioned in 1243. It was developed to a large park, holding the graves of notable residents.
The name "Melaten" refers to a hospital for the sick and lepers from the 12th century. The "hoff to Malaten" (modern German: der Maladen, or "yard of the '") is first mentioned in a 1243 document.
Melaten is in the north of the municipal district of Lindenthal. It is surrounded by streets, in the south , in the east PiusstraÃÂe, in the west Oskar-Jäger-StraÃÂe and the Melatengürtel, and in the north WeinsbergstraÃÂe. The 435,000-square-metre cemetery had 55,540 graves in 2008, and is the largest cemetery in the city.
Melaten is located approximately one kilometre west of the city district of Cologne, just beyond the , the historical boundary between the territory of the city and that of the archbishop. The hospital therefore fell under the jurisdiction of the archbishop, and was in spiritual hands.
Notable burials on Melaten include: