Evangelical cemetery in Doly

The Evangelical Cemetery in Karwina is a disused burial ground in the Kopalnie (Doły) district, part of the Zaolzie region in the Moravian-Silesian area of the Czech Republic. Although no burials have taken place here for decades, the site remains a meaningful trace of the Evangelical community that once thrived in this mining region of Cieszyn Silesia.

How was the cemetery founded?

The cemetery was established in 1903 to serve members of the Evangelical parish from Karwina and the nearby settlement of Solca. The land was donated by Józef Kraina, curator of the Orłowa congregation, together with his wife Ewa. As a token of gratitude for this gift, the community granted Kraina the right to choose his own burial plot within the cemetery grounds — a gesture that reflects the close-knit character of the local religious community at the time.

The chapel and its story

A few years after the cemetery opened, in 1906, a chapel was built on its grounds. It was consecrated jointly by senior pastor Andrzej Krzywoń, pastor Andrzej Źlik, and pastor Jerzy Rusnok — three clergymen tied to the Evangelical tradition of Cieszyn Silesia. The chapel tower held bells cast by the Schwalbe company of Bielsko, a manufacturer known for supplying bells to numerous parishes across the region.

Why did the cemetery stop operating?

The fate of the cemetery is closely tied to Karwina's industrial history. Intensive coal mining in the surrounding area caused subsidence damage that affected both the cemetery grounds and the chapel itself. The site gradually fell into disrepair, and by the 1960s the cemetery was officially closed. At the time, families were urged to relocate the graves of their relatives to other active cemeteries, but some caretakers chose not to move the burials — which is why remnants of gravestones can still be found on the former cemetery grounds today.

Who maintains the site today?

The land remains formally owned by the Silesian Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Karwina, which continues the tradition of the congregation the cemetery was originally built to serve. Although the site no longer fulfills its original function, it forms part of a broader network of heritage sites connected to the history of Protestantism in the Zaolzie region.

What should visitors know before going?

The Evangelical Cemetery in Karwina appeals mainly to those interested in regional history, mining heritage, and the fate of religious minorities along the Polish-Czech border. It is not a conventional tourist attraction with visitor infrastructure or marked trails — rather, it is a quiet, reflective place that illustrates how deeply industrial mining could reshape both landscapes and the communities living within them.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Evangelical Cemetery in Karwina still in use? No, the cemetery was officially closed in the 1960s, and no new burials have taken place there since.

Why did the cemetery stop functioning? The main cause was subsidence damage from coal mining in the area, which affected both the cemetery grounds and the chapel built there.

Who donated the land for the cemetery? The land was donated in 1903 by Józef Kraina, curator of the Orłowa congregation, and his wife Ewa.

Are any structures still standing on the site? Yes, despite the closure, remnants of gravestones remain on the grounds because not all burials were relocated to other cemeteries.

Who owns the cemetery today? The site belongs to the Silesian Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Karwina.