Cemetery in Rejštejn

Cemetery in Rejštejn surrounds the Church of St. Bartholomew right in the heart of this small Šumava town, in the Klatovy district of the Plzeň Region in the Czech Republic. Enclosed by a Baroque wall, the cemetery has served as the resting place for generations of the town's residents, with the church standing at its center as it has for centuries.

What does the church at the center of the cemetery look like?

The Church of St. Bartholomew, first mentioned in written records in 1570, has medieval origins, though its present Baroque appearance dates from a reconstruction in 1792. It is a single-nave building with a presbytery closed on three sides and supported by buttresses, topped by a distinctive pyramidal tower. Inside the tower hang three bells: one Gothic bell cast in the late 14th century, and two newer ones donated to the town in 1994 by a resident of Bavaria. The contrast between the oldest, medieval bell and the modern gift from across the border reflects the turbulent history of this borderland region, long shared by Czech and German-speaking communities.

Who is buried in the cemetery in Rejštejn?

Among the graves in the cemetery are those of the mother and brother of Karel Klostermann, the writer whose work is inseparably linked with the Šumava region. Charlotta Klostermannová died in 1903, and her son Jakub Klostermann a year earlier, in 1901. Klostermann himself, often called the "Šumava Homer," visited Rejštejn repeatedly, and his family's graves in the local cemetery testify to his close ties to the town and the wider region.

Why is this cemetery worth a stop?

The cemetery in Rejštejn is more than a burial ground — it is a place where the region's sacred architecture meets the personal history of one of the most important writers to chronicle the Šumava. The Baroque wall enclosing the grounds, the Gothic bell in the church tower, and the Klostermann family graves together create a small but historically dense site, well worth a visit alongside a walk through Rejštejn itself, a picturesque town on the Otava River.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the cemetery in Rejštejn located? The cemetery lies in the center of Rejštejn, a small town in the Klatovy district of the Plzeň Region, in the Šumava area of the Czech Republic.

What stands on the cemetery grounds? The Church of St. Bartholomew stands at the center of the cemetery, enclosed by a Baroque wall, and the grounds include the graves of relatives of writer Karel Klostermann.

How old is the church on the cemetery grounds? The church is first mentioned in 1570, has medieval roots, and gained its current appearance after a reconstruction in 1792.

What bells are in the church tower? The tower holds three bells: one Gothic bell from the late 14th century and two newer ones donated in 1994 by a resident of Bavaria.

Who is buried in the cemetery in Rejštejn? The cemetery contains the graves of writer Karel Klostermann's mother and brother, Charlotta Klostermannová and Jakub Klostermann.