Cemetery in Slaný

The Municipal Cemetery in Slaný is one of the oldest and most historically significant cemeteries in this Czech town, located in the northeastern part of Slaný on Na Vinici street, close to the historic town centre. The site's coordinates are approximately 50.2347 N, 14.0905 E.

When was the cemetery founded?

The cemetery was established in 1576 as the second historical burial ground in Slaný, in a locality known as Na Golgotě. At the time, cemeteries were typically placed outside the town walls, away from the settlement's centre, and this site followed that same tradition. The oldest surviving gravestone on the grounds is the epitaph of Slaný burgher Jiřík Balas (also recorded as Balaše), his wife and children, dating from 1584. This Renaissance-era tombstone was carved by Jakob Macetti, the stonemason who also supervised stonework on the nearby church.

What can be found on the cemetery grounds?

Shortly after the cemetery's founding, in 1602, an early Baroque Protestant church dedicated to the Holy Trinity was completed on its grounds. The church was built at a time when Protestant denominations still enjoyed relative freedom within the Kingdom of Bohemia. That changed as the Habsburg monarchy pursued Counter-Reformation policies: in 1622 the church was converted for Catholic use. In 1655, Count Bernard Ignác of Martinic and his wife founded a Franciscan monastery adjacent to the cemetery, permanently linking the site to the order.

The cemetery is divided into four sections, which were established gradually over the following centuries as the growing town required additional burial space.

Who is buried at the cemetery in Slaný?

The cemetery holds the graves of figures connected to Slaný's cultural, political and civic life. Among them is Karel Sedláček, a leading figure of the local Amateur Theatre Association, and the aforementioned Jiřík Balas, a town councilman whose 1584 Renaissance tombstone ranks among the most valuable stonework pieces preserved on the grounds.

Why is this site worth visiting?

The Municipal Cemetery in Slaný is more than a burial ground — it is a record of several centuries of local history, spanning the Reformation, the Counter-Reformation, and the presence of the Franciscan order. The combination of historic sacred architecture with centuries-old tombstones makes it a worthwhile stop for anyone interested in regional history or Renaissance and Baroque stonemasonry. Walking through its four sections offers a tangible sense of how the cemetery expanded over time.

Frequently asked questions

When was the cemetery in Slaný founded? It was founded in 1576 as the town's second historical cemetery, in a locality called Na Golgotě.

What is the oldest monument in the cemetery? The oldest surviving monument is the 1584 epitaph of Jiřík Balas, his wife and children, created by stonemason Jakob Macetti.

Which church stands on the cemetery grounds? An early Baroque Church of the Holy Trinity, built in 1602 as a Protestant church and converted to Catholic use in 1622.

Was there ever a monastery next to the cemetery? Yes, in 1655 Count Bernard Ignác of Martinic founded a Franciscan monastery beside the cemetery.

How many sections does the cemetery have? The cemetery is made up of four sections, added gradually as the town grew.