Cemetery in Sezemice

Sezemice Cemetery sits on a hilltop in the eastern part of Sezemice, a small town in the Pardubice Region of the Czech Republic, a few kilometers northeast of Pardubice itself. It combines the role of an active municipal cemetery with that of a modest local landmark — the hill it occupies has long been known as "Kozí vrch" (Goat Hill), though locals today more often call it "Na vrchách."

How to get there?

Sezemice lies on the Loučná River, about a quarter of an hour's drive from Pardubice. The cemetery occupies the highest point in town, so it's visible from a distance no matter which direction you approach from. The grounds cover roughly 1,100 square meters and are maintained by the town of Sezemice.

Why is the cemetery on a hill outside town?

For centuries, residents of Sezemice were buried around the Church of the Holy Trinity, an early Gothic building from the 13th–14th century known for its unusual octagonal wooden bell tower, likely dating to the 16th century. That changed in the autumn of 1831, when a cholera epidemic reached the town — local tradition says it was brought by two shoemakers returning from a trip to Prostějov. The disease spread quickly and raged until the following March, claiming many lives. The churchyard proved too small for the number of burials, so the town decided to open a new cemetery outside the built-up area, on Kozí vrch hill. A small chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary went up there as early as 1833, and the following year the grounds were enclosed with a stone wall.

The chapel and the war memorial

The chapel visitors see today, one of Sezemice's recognizable landmarks, was built in 1902 in a pseudo-Gothic style, replacing the earlier structure from the epidemic years. It still belongs to the local Roman Catholic parish and remains a site of local pilgrimage traditions. The cemetery also holds a monument to the victims of the First and Second World Wars, unveiled on 28 October 1922 on the initiative of the town council — a date deliberately chosen to coincide with the anniversary of Czechoslovak independence.

When to visit?

The cemetery is open every day, though hours shift with the season: 8:00–17:00 from January to April and from November to December, 7:00–20:00 from May to August, and 7:00–18:00 in September and October. Spring and summer are the best times for a walk up the hill, since the longer days also make it easier to take in the views over the town and the Loučná valley.

Frequently asked questions

Why is Sezemice's cemetery located on a hill outside the town center? Because the old churchyard at the Church of the Holy Trinity ran out of room during the cholera epidemic of 1831–1832, prompting the town to open a new cemetery on Kozí vrch hill.

How old is the cemetery chapel? The current pseudo-Gothic Chapel of the Virgin Mary dates to 1902, replacing an earlier chapel built in 1833.

What else can visitors see on the grounds? A monument to the victims of the First and Second World Wars, unveiled in 1922, and the stone wall that has enclosed the cemetery since 1834.

What are the opening hours? They change by season, ranging from 7:00–8:00 to 17:00–20:00 depending on the month; the cemetery stays open longest from May to August.