cemetery in Silůvky

The cemetery in Silůvky is a small village burial ground in the South Moravian municipality of Silůvky, established in 1913 on land owned by farmer Václav Škorpík, next to the Chapel of the Holy Trinity. Before that date, the village had no cemetery of its own — the dead were buried in the neighboring village of Tikovice, first around its parish church and, from 1820 onward, in Tikovice's newer cemetery.

Why was the cemetery built in this exact spot?

The location was not chosen at random. The Chapel of the Holy Trinity next to it is the oldest and most distinctive building in this part of the village, dating back to 1586, and stands at the crossroads of old roads once leading to Mělčany, Prštice, Rajhrad, Tikovice, Hlína and Moravské Bránice. Before Silůvky had its own cemetery, farewell ceremonies for the deceased were held right at this chapel: the whole village would gather, the priest would ask everyone present for reconciliation and forgiveness, and only then would a horse-drawn carriage carrying the closest relatives set off for Tikovice, where the burial itself took place. The founding of a local cemetery in 1913 finally put an end to this long and burdensome tradition.

What can visitors find at the cemetery today?

Beyond its role as a village burial site, the cemetery in Silůvky also carries national historical significance. It is the resting place of several soldiers and legionnaires tied to the turbulent period of World War I and the birth of independent Czechoslovakia, including Rudolf Smrž (died February 1918), František Hledík (born 1886, conscripted in 1915, later a member of the Russian legions), Václav Zoufalý (born 1884, a soldier associated with Red Army units) and Cyril Rouš (born 1893, a French legionnaire). The cemetery also holds the grave of Matěj Cesar (1887–1953), another Czechoslovak legionnaire. These graves make the cemetery a memorial to a generation of villagers who fought for the emergence of an independent Czechoslovak state.

Are there other memorial sites connected to Silůvky?

Although not located on the cemetery grounds itself, two other memorial sites in the village are worth knowing about. On Na Rybníkách street stands a monument to the victims of the First and Second World Wars, dedicated to the memory of 24 Red Army soldiers who died while liberating the village between 18 and 24 April 1945. On the building of the former railway station, a memorial plaque honors Ondřej Hron, a railway worker who was killed in 1945. Together, the chapel, the cemetery and the monument by the station form a small trail of historical memory running through Silůvky.

Frequently asked questions

When was the cemetery in Silůvky established? It was founded in 1913 on land belonging to Václav Škorpík, next to the Chapel of the Holy Trinity.

Where were the residents of Silůvky buried before that? Until 1820 they were buried around the parish church in Tikovice, and afterward in Tikovice's newer cemetery.

Are there any historically notable graves at the cemetery? Yes, it holds the graves of several Czechoslovak legionnaires from the World War I era, including Rudolf Smrž, František Hledík, Václav Zoufalý and Cyril Rouš.

Is there anything else of interest near the cemetery? Yes, it stands next to the Chapel of the Holy Trinity from 1586, one of the oldest buildings in the municipality, located at a historic crossroads.