With its 24.6 hectares, the Evangelical Lutheran Johannisfriedhof was the largest cemetery in Dresden until the municipal non-denominational Heidefriedhof was established in 1934.

Many prominent Dresden residents such as the builder of the iconic landmark church Frauenkirche, architect George Bähr, and the greatest Saxon organ builder, Gottfried Silbermann found their final resting place at the old burial ground.

For this reason, the city management decided to relocate the cemetery in 1854, despite citizens' petitions and heavy protests.

[3] The designated historic landmark chapel with an impressive dome was built by Paul Wallot in 1894 in the Neo-Renaissance style.

A jury led by Lutheran bishop Margot Käßmann awarded the Johannisfriedhof as the most beautiful cemetery in Germany on November 8, 2011.