City cemetery in Sušice

The City Cemetery in Sušice is the main burial ground of the Czech town of Sušice in the Šumava region, established in 1878 after the older cemetery near the U Matky Boží church in the town center ran out of space. The new grounds were consecrated on September 29, 1878, and the first person laid to rest there was Eduard Šebesta, a notary. The cemetery sits on the southeastern edge of Sušice, along Na Vršku street, and has been expanded several times since its founding, mainly toward the south.

What does the cemetery look like?

The entrance is marked by a neo-Romanesque gate combined with a ceremonial hall, built in the historicist style typical of the late 19th century. This architectural ensemble gives the cemetery its recognizable period character, standing in contrast to the plainer, newer sections added in later decades. Among the many gravestones, one family tomb stands out: it was designed by sculptor Stanislav Sucharda for Vojtěch Scheinost, a local match-factory operator who died in 1894.

Who is buried in the Sušice cemetery?

The cemetery holds the graves of several figures of wider significance. Mathematician Matyáš Lerch (1860–1922), one of the most notable Czech mathematicians at the turn of the 20th century, known for his work in mathematical analysis and number theory, is buried here. Also resting in the cemetery is Josef Kunský (1903–1977), a geomorphologist and geographer who studied the landscape of the Czech lands. Among the graves is also the resting place of Václav Kojzar, a participant in the Czech resistance movement during the Second World War.

What traces of 20th-century history does the cemetery carry?

After the Second World War, following the expulsion of the German population from the Czech borderlands, many graves belonging to German families were left untended and gradually fell into neglect — a common fate for cemeteries across the former Sudeten border region. The grounds also include a memorial dedicated to the victims and fallen of the Second World War, commemorating residents of Sušice and the surrounding area affected by the conflict.

Is cremation available on site?

No — Sušice itself has no crematorium, and cremation services for residents of the town and surrounding region are handled mainly in nearby Klatovy. Despite this, the city cemetery has remained the main site of traditional burials for the people of Sušice for more than 140 years.

Frequently asked questions

When was the city cemetery in Sušice founded? It was established in 1878 and consecrated on September 29 of that year.

Where exactly is the cemetery located? On the southeastern edge of Sušice, along Na Vršku street.

Who is buried at this cemetery? Notable graves include mathematician Matyáš Lerch, geomorphologist Josef Kunský, and businessman Vojtěch Scheinost, whose tomb was designed by sculptor Stanislav Sucharda.

Is the cemetery worth visiting as a tourist? Yes — for its neo-Romanesque entrance gate and ceremonial hall, as well as historic graves that document the town's history over the past 150 years, including the region's postwar demographic changes.