When Mainz was under French administration, cemeteries became rare due to the closing of church institutions.

A new Christian cemetery was established in 1803 when Jeanbon St. André was the French préfet of the department of Mont-Tonnerre (Donnersberg).

[1][2][3] Initiated by the mayor, Franz Konrad Macké [de], it was placed in the Zahlbach valley on former monastery grounds in 1803.

[7] The cemetery features two Gruftenstraßen (grave roads) with high monuments of important Mainzer families.

[3] The Hauptfriedhof holds the graves of important Main personalities: scientists, industrialists, musicians, writers, politiciana and people of the Mainz carnival.