Moritz Tomb (Tomb of Johann Moritz von Nassau-Siegen)

The Moritzgrab dates back to the 17th century and is supposed to be the burial place of Moritz von Nassau-Siegen - supposedly because he had this burial place built for himself, but he is buried in Siegen.

Tomb of Johann Moritz Prince of Nassau-Siegen in Bedburg-Hau
Like many other places in the Klever area, the Prince Moritz tomb near Berg und Tal (Bergenthal, Bergendael) in Bedburg-Hau is a reminder of the governor of Cleve from 1647 to 1679. Alter Park and Sternenbusch in Bedburg-Hau. Prince Moritz Park, Tiergarten, amphitheater, Tiergartenstrasse, old park with the Galleien, Nassauer Allee, Prinzenhof in Kleve. In Berlin "Unter den Linden" is a plagiarism of Nassauer Allee. Amphitheater and Tiergarten were taken over in Düsseldorf and Berlin.
Johann Moritz, Prince of Nassau-Siegen *1604 †1679, also known as the "Brazilian" was the son of Count Johann VII of Nassau-Dillenburg. The House of Orange also emerged from the House of Nassau.
From 1621 Prince Moritz was in the service of the Dutch. In 1636 he became Governor-General of the Dutch West India Company. In 1637 he captured the Portuguese fortress of Sao Jorge da Mina (Guinea) on the coast of Africa. In 1638 he unsuccessfully besieged Bahia on the Brazilian coast. In 1640, after the Portuguese and Spanish fleets had been almost completely destroyed, he invaded Chile in 1643. In 1644 he returned to Holland and became governor of Wesel.
In 1649, Prince Moritz was appointed governor of Kleve and Mark by the Elector of Brandenburg, Freidrich Wilhelm, and in 1658 Minden was added. In 1652 he was appointed by Emperor Ferdinand III. raised to the rank of imperial prince.
During his governorship, he transformed the devastated residential city of Kleve into a glamorous park and garden city. He built the last park and his burial place in mountains and valleys. Frederick the Great took the tomb and park as a model to build his tomb on the terraces of Sanssouci.
Prince Moritz was buried in the Garb-Tombe Berg und Tal on December 20, 1679. As early as 1668, Prince Moritz had a princely tomb laid out in Siegen for himself and his successors. A year later he was transferred to Siegen.

In 1678, one year before his death, Prince Johann Moritz von Nassau-Siegen (1604 to 1679) had a tomb built in the hills and valleys.
In the stone semicircle, which was repaired in 1929, replicas of Roman altars and votive stones as well as walled-in vessels and cast-iron vases from the 17th century can be seen today.
The originals are in the Landesmuseum Bonn. In the central axis of the complex stands the massive cast-iron tomb, decorated with coats of arms, trophies and inscriptions. As a sign of the "empty grave", the cover plate is placed on the side.

Prince Johann Moritz von Nassau-Siegen was buried here, but a few months later - according to his last will - transferred to Siegen, where he found his final resting place in the family crypt in the Lower Castle. The tomb is intended to commemorate the former regent of the city.

A short, uphill forest path leads from Moritzgrab to Papenberg, a vantage point that offers a unique view over the Galleien to the city silhouette of Kleve with the Schwanenburg and the collegiate church.

The Prince-Moritz-Weg leads from the tomb along the Kermisdahl to the foot of the Schwanenburg (approx. 3.5 km), in the opposite direction the Voltaire-Weg leads to Moyland Castle (approx. 6.5 km).

(kleve.de/de/machen/moritzgrab/)