Cemetery in Hradiště

The Evangelical Cemetery in Hradiště is a small burial ground in the village of Hradiště, one of three parts of the Těrlicko municipality in the Karviná District, Moravian-Silesian Region of the Czech Republic. It sits on Hradišťská street, along road III/4741, at the foot of Babí Hill, and has served the local Lutheran community — the Silesian Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession — for close to two centuries. The grounds cover 2,429 square metres, not counting the plot occupied by the chapel.

Who founded the cemetery, and when?

The current cemetery was established by Jiří Goch, owner of the Hradiště estate, and was consecrated on 26 November 1857. The Goch family shaped much of the site's early character and remained closely tied to it for generations — a family necropolis belonging to the Gochs still stands on the grounds today.

The built structures came later, in stages. A belfry was erected in 1872 and consecrated on 13 February 1873. The chapel with its tower, now the most recognisable structure on site, had its tower consecrated in 1930, in a ceremony attended by Evangelical clergy from Polish, German and Czech congregations from Český Těšín — a detail that reflects how multi-ethnic the local Evangelical community in Cieszyn Silesia was at the time.

For most of its history, the cemetery and chapel belonged to the Evangelical Parish in Třanovice. Ownership passed to the Těrlicko municipality only in the 21st century, and the municipality now maintains the site.

Where was the original cemetery?

Before this cemetery was founded, the local Evangelical community buried its dead in an older, square-shaped cemetery at the southern foot of Babí Hill. Rocky ground eventually made further burials impractical, so that older cemetery was closed and trees were planted over it. Today the site functions almost like a small sculpture park, with symbolic monuments and memorial plaques recalling its earlier use as a burial ground.

Who is buried here?

Alongside the Goch family necropolis, the cemetery holds the graves of other locally notable figures, including Adam Cholewa, a school director, and Teofil Cholewa, a mining engineer. There is also a monument dedicated to an unknown Soviet soldier, commemorating those who died in fighting in the region toward the end of the Second World War.

What else is worth seeing nearby?

Hradiště sits in landscape typical of Cieszyn Silesia and the Beskids foothills. Within a few kilometres, visitors will find the Těrlicko dam and reservoir, the Soběšovice lookout tower (Rozhledna Soběšovice, about 4 km away), the ruins of Hnojník castle, and several wooden churches scattered across nearby villages — a hallmark of the region's sacred architecture. It's a convenient stop for anyone combining a cemetery visit with short walks or cycling trips through the Beskid foothills.

Frequently asked questions

Is the cemetery open to visitors? Yes. As an active parish/municipal cemetery, it is accessible to visitors during the standard opening hours of Czech municipal cemeteries.

What denomination does the cemetery belong to? It belongs to the Silesian Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession (SCEAV), the largest Lutheran church in the Czech Republic, historically rooted in Cieszyn Silesia.

Does the original, older cemetery still exist? The original cemetery at the foot of Babí Hill was closed due to rocky terrain, but the site has since been turned into a small memorial space with monuments and plaques, so it can still be visited.

What is the oldest surviving element of the current cemetery? The cemetery itself, consecrated in 1857, is the oldest element. Among the structures, the 1872 belfry predates the chapel with its tower, which was consecrated in 1930.