Cemetery in Nový Knín

The Cemetery in Nový Knín is a modest burial ground located at the foot of Chvojná hill, on the edge of the small town of Nový Knín in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. While it rarely draws travelers chasing dramatic landmarks, it offers a quiet window into the town's 19th-century urban and religious history.

Why was the cemetery moved from the town center?

The original burial ground in Nový Knín surrounded the Church of St. Nicholas on the town square. As the town grew and needed space for a new school building constructed between 1819 and 1821, authorities decided to close the churchyard cemetery. In 1821, burials were relocated to the site it occupies today, beneath Chvojná hill. This move reflected a broader pattern common across the Habsburg monarchy at the time, as towns pushed cemeteries away from central squares for sanitary and planning reasons.

What happened to the Chapel of St. John of Nepomuk?

One of the more distinctive threads in the site's history concerns the fate of the Baroque Chapel of St. John of Nepomuk. It originally stood on the town square in Nový Knín, but was demolished in 1890. A new, less artistically refined eclectic building serving the same religious purpose replaced it on the square. Notably, a corresponding chapel structure was also built at the cemetery site beneath Chvojná, and it was later expanded with the addition of a mortuary — a sign of the cemetery's growing importance as the town's principal burial ground.

How did the surrounding infrastructure develop?

The cemetery's development went hand in hand with municipal infrastructure investment. As early as 1883, several years before the chapel reconstruction, the road leading to the cemetery was repaired. This work was carried out alongside repairs to Church Street and Brewery Street, showing that town authorities viewed access to the cemetery as part of a wider effort to modernize Nový Knín's road network.

What can visitors see today?

Visitors to the site today will find the cemetery chapel together with its adjoining mortuary — the structure that effectively took over the role of the demolished Baroque chapel from the square. Laid out on the gentle slope beneath Chvojná hill, the cemetery has the calm, intimate character typical of small-town burial grounds in Central Bohemia. It appeals mainly to those interested in local history, genealogy, and 19th-century religious architecture rather than to visitors seeking dramatic scenery.

How to get there and where exactly is it located?

The cemetery lies within the boundaries of Nový Knín, a small town in the Příbram District of the Central Bohemian Region, a short distance from the town's main square. Given its proximity to the center, it can easily be combined with a visit to the town's other historic sites, including the location of the former churchyard cemetery it replaced.

Frequently asked questions

Why was the cemetery relocated from the town center? The original cemetery around the Church of St. Nicholas on the town square was closed between 1819 and 1821 to make room for a new school building, and burials were moved to the current site beneath Chvojná hill.

What happened to the chapel that used to stand on the square? The Baroque Chapel of St. John of Nepomuk was demolished in 1890. A new eclectic building replaced it on the square, while a corresponding chapel was also built at the cemetery, later expanded with a mortuary.

Was any infrastructure work carried out near the cemetery? Yes, in 1883 the road leading to the cemetery was repaired together with Church Street and Brewery Street, improving access to this part of town.

Who would find this site particularly interesting? The cemetery is of most interest to those researching local history, family genealogy, or the religious architecture of small Central Bohemian towns.