Cemetery in Prostějov

Prostějov Municipal Cemetery is a historic burial ground established in 1900 on Brněnská Street, on the southern edge of the town in the Czech Republic. Beyond its function as a graveyard, it now serves as Prostějov's largest park and something of an open-air art gallery, filled with stonework and architectural details from the turn of the 20th century.

Where is it and how do you get there?

The cemetery sits in the southern part of Prostějov, along Brněnská Street, within easy walking distance or a short public-transport ride from the town centre. Its large grounds, planted with trees and shrubs, mean the site doubles as a municipal park — both mourners and casual walkers share the same tree-lined paths.

What does the entrance look like?

The main architectural draw is the richly decorated entrance portal — a large central gate flanked by two smaller side gates, all closed off by an ornamental wrought-iron grille. Above the entrance, stucco reliefs depict angel figures alongside the Greek letters alpha and omega, symbols of beginning and end. The gateway is framed by two quarter-circle arcades in a Renaissance-inspired style, designed by local architect Čeněk Venclík and built in 1902 and 1907. This entrance section is the most photographed part of the cemetery.

Why does the cemetery feel like a botanical garden?

Dozens of trees and shrubs line the pathways, including species considered unusual or exotic for Central Europe. Much of this planting scheme is credited to František Havránek, the town's gardener and the cemetery's first administrator, who shaped a large part of the greenery himself. The result is a site where historic gravestones and stone monuments sit alongside dense, varied vegetation, setting Prostějov's cemetery apart from typical municipal graveyards of its era.

Who is buried here?

The best-known name associated with the cemetery is Jiří Wolker, a Czech poet who died in 1924 at the age of 23 and remains one of Prostějov's most significant literary natives from the early 20th century. His grave is regularly visited by people interested in interwar Czech poetry.

Is there a Jewish cemetery nearby?

Yes — immediately adjacent stands the New Jewish Cemetery of Prostějov, established in 1908 as the third Jewish burial ground in the town's history. It was founded after an earlier Jewish cemetery, in use throughout the 19th century, was closed. Together, the municipal and Jewish cemeteries are often treated as a neighbouring pair of burial grounds and form an important part of Prostějov's funerary history.

Frequently asked questions

When was Prostějov Municipal Cemetery founded? In 1900, on Brněnská Street on the southern edge of the town.

Who designed the cemetery's entrance portal? The arcades and gate were designed by local architect Čeněk Venclík, built in 1902 and 1907.

Which notable person is buried at this cemetery? The most recognised figure is Czech poet Jiří Wolker, who died in 1924.

Is there a Jewish cemetery close by? Yes, the New Jewish Cemetery of Prostějov, founded in 1908, sits right next to it.

Can the cemetery be considered a park? Yes — thanks to its rich, partly exotic vegetation, largely planted by gardener František Havránek, the grounds function as the town's largest park.