cemetery in Předklášteří

The cemetery in Předklášteří is a small, picturesque burial ground set on a hillside at the heart of the village, in an area known as Na Stráňově, right beside a blue-marked hiking trail. Modest in appearance, it is nonetheless one of the oldest sites of its kind near Tišnov, closely tied to the history of the nearby Porta Coeli convent.

Where does the name Předklášteří come from?

The village name literally translates as "before the monastery," referring to its position next to the Cistercian Porta Coeli convent, founded in 1233 by Queen Constance, widow of Czech King Přemysl Otakar I. For centuries the presence of the nuns shaped the religious and social life of the settlement, and the cemetery became a natural burial place for local residents connected to that community.

What can be found within the cemetery grounds?

At the center of the burial ground stands the Church of the Holy Trinity, built in Gothic-Romanesque style in 1555 through a donation by Abbess Barbora Kvinská of Švábenice. The church later underwent a Baroque reconstruction in 1678, which gave it the more decorative appearance it has today. Next to the church stands an early Baroque charnel house dating from around 1700 — both structures are now protected as cultural monuments.

How did the cemetery survive the region's turbulent history?

The story of this place is inseparable from the fate of the Porta Coeli convent. During the Hussite Wars (1428–1436) the convent was devastated, forcing the nuns to take refuge at a Cistercian convent in Old Brno; they did not return until 1436, under Abbess Elizabeth IV, who is regarded as the convent's second founder. Another difficult period followed during the Swedish invasions of 1619–1625. Emperor Joseph II dissolved the convent in 1782, and its buildings were even repurposed as a textile factory. Despite these upheavals, the cemetery and the Church of the Holy Trinity endured as a testament to the village's earlier religious identity.

Why is it worth a visit?

The cemetery in Předklášteří appeals to visitors seeking quiet and history away from the main route leading to the Porta Coeli convent itself. The small scale of the burial ground, its green hillside setting, and the intimate little church create an atmosphere quite different from the monumental convent basilica — making it a rewarding, quieter stop either before or after visiting the main site.

Frequently asked questions

Is the cemetery open to the public? Yes, it lies within the village next to a hiking trail and can be visited independently.

What else is there to see besides the church? An early Baroque charnel house from around 1700, standing right next to the church — both are protected cultural monuments.

How do you get there? The cemetery sits on a hillside in the center of Předklášteří, in the Na Stráňově area, along the blue hiking trail leading toward the Porta Coeli convent.

Is this the same place as the Porta Coeli convent? No — it is a separate, much smaller religious site in the village, though its history is closely linked to the convent and its Cistercian nuns.