Cemetery in Pozořice

The Cemetery in Pozořice is a small, historic burial ground surrounding the Baroque parish church in the centre of Pozořice, a market town in the Brno-Country District of the South Moravian Region. At first glance it looks like a quiet, local resting place, but its layout and corner structures date back to the early 18th century and are closely tied to the story of how the parish church was rebuilt after a devastating fire.

How to get there?

Pozořice lies a short distance northeast of Brno, along the road heading toward Křtiny and the Moravian Karst. The cemetery sits directly beside the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, right in the heart of the town, so it is easy to reach on foot for anyone visiting the main square and the surrounding sights. By car, the drive from Brno usually takes around twenty minutes.

Where did this cemetery come from?

The cemetery's history is inseparable from that of the church standing next to it. On 20 May 1703, a fire destroyed the earlier church building, setting off a long rebuilding process. In the spring of 1710, the remains of the old Gothic church were demolished, and construction of a new, monumental building began on the same spot. Alongside the construction work, extensive ground preparations were carried out that made it possible to lay out a new cemetery around the church. The whole project dragged on for more than a decade, partly because of financial complications following the death of Prince Jan Adam in 1712. The new church was finally consecrated on 15 August 1724.

What is there to see?

The church itself, designed by master mason Antonio Salla in a Roman classicizing Baroque style, is the main reference point for the entire cemetery complex. Inside, visitors can find a main altar completed in 1785 by sculptor Tomáš Schweigel, a baptismal font from 1730, and a pulpit from 1738, while the organ was brought here in 1724–1725 from the Holy Hill (Svatý Kopeček) near Olomouc.

Within the cemetery grounds themselves, a distinctive feature is a pair of small structures standing at its corners. According to local historical sources, these may originally have served as water distribution points, supplying water to a nearby manor house. Sculptures have also survived in the older part of the cemetery, pointing to a long-standing tradition of burial here and to the artistic value already placed on the site back in the Baroque era. The cemetery is still maintained by the local municipality today.

When to visit?

The cemetery and church can be visited year-round, though the setting is most pleasant in spring and summer, when the greenery around the Baroque building highlights the atmosphere of the place. It's worth combining a visit with a walk through the centre of Pozořice and a trip to the nearby attractions of the Moravian Karst, which lie just a short distance away.

Frequently asked questions

When was the cemetery in Pozořice established? The cemetery was laid out in the early 18th century, alongside the rebuilding of the parish church after the 1703 fire — ground preparation for the new cemetery began in the spring of 1710.

Where exactly is the cemetery located? It surrounds the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in the centre of Pozořice, a town in the Brno-Country District of the South Moravian Region.

What is distinctive about the cemetery's architecture? Two small structures stand at the corners of the cemetery, which, according to historical accounts, may originally have distributed water to a nearby manor house.

Have any historic elements survived on the cemetery grounds? Yes, sculptures remain in the older part of the cemetery, and the adjoining church holds valuable Baroque furnishings, including a main altar from 1785.