Cremation in Freiburg: A modern form of farewell

Legal framework and regulations in Freiburg

Cremation in Freiburg is subject to certain legal regulations, which must be observed. In Germany, the so-called cemetery duty applies, which means that the ashes of a deceased person may only be buried in a cemetery or in funeral forests approved for this purpose. An exception is burial at sea, which is approved under certain conditions.

Who can order a cremation?

Cremation is ordered in a legally defined order. Priority is given to spouses or registered partners, followed by children, parents and other close relatives. If there are no relatives or cannot take over the burial, the public order office can take action.

Documents required

The following documents are required for a cremation in Freiburg:

• death certificate (issued by the registry office of the place of death)
• Cremation permit (issued by competent authorities)
• Declaration of intent by the deceased (if available) to ensure that cremation was required
• Medical certificate about the cause of death and a second medical examination to confirm the identity of the deceased

Types of cremations and their peculiarities

Anonymous cremation

In the case of anonymous cremation, the urn is buried without a name in a designated community field. This form of burial is particularly cost-effective, but relatives are generally unable to attend the funeral.

Tree burial after cremation

In Freiburg, there are various options for a nature-oriented Tree burial. Urns with biodegradable materials can be buried under trees, for example in cemeteries with specially designated tree grave fields or in funeral forests.

Burial at sea after cremation

One Burial at sea presupposes that the deceased has expressed a corresponding wish during his lifetime. The ashes are handed over to the North Sea or Baltic Sea in a water-soluble urn. Providers of sea burials near Freiburg are organising the transfer and the ceremony at sea.

columbarium burial

A columbarium is an urn wall in which the deceased's ashes are buried in an urn chamber. There are modern columbariums in various cemeteries in Freiburg, which represent a dignified and maintenance-free alternative to classic grave sites.

Scattering of ashes

Ash scattering in cemeteries is not permitted in Freiburg. Alternatively, there are options in neighboring regions, such as Switzerland or France, where dispersion is permitted under certain conditions.

Comparison: cremation vs. burial

1. Expenses

• Cremation: Cheaper (including urn grave)
• Burial: More expensive (grave, coffin)

2. Environmental aspects

• Cremation: Less land use, but CO₂ emissions due to cremation
• Burial: Higher land use but no incineration processes

3. Flexibility

• Cremation: urn burial is possible in various forms (e.g. tree burial, columbarium)
• Burial: Limited options, mostly burial in the cemetery

4. Grave care

• Cremation: Less effort (e.g. columbarium, anonymous burial)
• Burial: Regular care of the grave is necessary

Ecological aspects of cremation

Although cremation requires less space compared to burial, it still has an ecological impact. During cremation, CO₂ emissions occur, but there are now crematories that use low-emission processes. Biodegradable urns and natural forms of burial also contribute to environmental friendliness.

Types of burial in Freiburg

There are various types of burial sites available for urn burials in Freiburg cemeteries:

• ballot grave: An individually selectable burial site for urns, which can be extended and designed according to personal ideas.
• Urnenreihengrab: A fixed grave site without the possibility of extension or individual selection.
• Pflegegrab: A supervised burial site where the cemetery administration takes care of the grave.
• Anonymous grave: The urn is buried in a communal grave without attribution.
• Semi-anonymous grave: A hybrid between anonymous and marked burial, often with a small name plate.
• Urn niches: Burial in a columbarium or an urn wall.

Tomb design and tombstone

An urn grave can be designed individually. Classic elements such as tombstones or memorial plaques are just as possible as natural variants with plants or stones. Some cemeteries in Freiburg also offer modern concepts such as community-designed memorial stones.

Cremations in Freiburg and grave care

After urn burial, grave care requirements vary depending on the type of grave. While columbariums and anonymous burials are maintenance-free, traditional urn graves require regular maintenance. However, many cemeteries offer maintenance contracts to keep the burial site permanently in good condition.