Cemetery in Domaslav

The cemetery in Domaslav is a small, historic village cemetery in the municipality of Lestkov, in the Tachov District of the Plzeň Region in western Czechia. The village of Domaslav itself (formerly known by its German name, Böhmisch Domaschlag) lies roughly six kilometers west of the town of Konstantinovy Lázně, in a borderland area shaped by centuries of Czech-German history.

Where is the cemetery located?

The cemetery sits on the edge of Domaslav, a village that forms part of the Lestkov municipality. The surrounding landscape is typical of this stretch of western Czechia between Tachov and Plzeň: open countryside dotted with small settlements, many of which still preserve old stone cemetery walls and modest chapels from earlier centuries.

What is the history behind this site?

For many years, the cemetery in Domaslav stood neglected. Vegetation gradually overtook the grounds, and a number of gravestones fell into disrepair from age and lack of consistent maintenance. This pattern is common across the region: after much of the German-speaking population left in the mid-20th century, many local cemeteries went without dedicated caretakers for decades.

In more recent years, the municipality of Lestkov decided to restore the cemetery to something closer to its original condition. A specialized company was brought in to clear the overgrowth, revealing gravestones that had been damaged and largely forgotten beneath the vegetation. The restoration work included repairing the cemetery wall and an almost complete reconstruction of the mortuary building, which had previously been in very poor structural condition.

Is the cemetery recognized as a cultural monument?

The village of Domaslav has pursued efforts to have the cemetery formally recognized as a cultural monument (kulturní památka). Such recognition would reflect the site's historical and architectural value and help secure long-term protection against further decay. Combined with the completed restoration, this step is meant to preserve the cemetery for future generations rather than let it fade back into neglect.

What can visitors see today?

Following the restoration, visitors can see the renewed cemetery wall and the rebuilt mortuary building, which has taken on a renewed role in the site's upkeep. In similar restored cemeteries across the region, such buildings are sometimes also used to display historical material, including photographs documenting the site and the community connected to it. The cemetery itself remains modest in scale, but it captures the quiet character typical of small rural burial grounds along the Czech-German borderland, with simple gravestones set within a peaceful, green setting.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Domaslav located? Domaslav lies within the Lestkov municipality, in the Tachov District of the Plzeň Region, about six kilometers west of Konstantinovy Lázně.

Is the cemetery well maintained today? Yes. Following a restoration project that repaired the surrounding wall and rebuilt the mortuary building, the cemetery's condition has improved considerably compared to its earlier neglected state.

Is this cemetery worth visiting for those exploring the Tachov area? It's a good example of a small, authentic rural cemetery with a notable restoration story, fitting into the broader picture of historic sacred sites across the Tachov District.

How do you get to Domaslav? The nearest well-known reference point is the town of Konstantinovy Lázně, from which Domaslav lies a short drive west along local roads within the Lestkov municipality.