Cemetery in Ruzyně

Ruzyně Cemetery is a small, quiet burial ground in Prague 6 – Ruzyně, located on Pod Hřbitovem street, between it and Karlovarská street. It rarely makes it onto typical tourist routes, but for travelers looking for a lesser-known, low-key corner of Prague, it's an interesting stop – especially combined with a walk through Ruzyně itself, a district best known today for the airport but with older, once-rural roots.

Where did this cemetery come from?

The cemetery was founded around 1900 as the second burial ground in Ruzyně. An earlier tolerance cemetery from 1784–1788, on what is now Huberova street, had been reserved exclusively for Protestants. The new cemetery was meant to serve the Roman Catholic population of the village of Ruzyně, which at the time belonged to the Liboc parish. The reason for establishing a new site was simple: the cemetery in Dolní Liboc could no longer keep up, since it also served residents of Vokovice and had become too far away for people living in Ruzyně.

What can visitors see there?

In the older, eastern part of the cemetery stands a stone cross topped with a figure of the Crucified, dating to 1902. The main path runs from the entrance gate westward, leading to a neo-Gothic chapel dedicated to St. Wenceslas, built of white stone in 1902–1903 together with a mortuary. The chapel was consecrated, and its first mass was celebrated on October 2, 1905, by a priest from Liboc, the writer Vlastimil Hálek – an event that effectively marked the cemetery's full opening.

How did the site grow over time?

Around 1943, a second section was added west of the chapel and mortuary, expanding the original layout. Today the entire cemetery covers 0.42 hectares and holds 30 family crypts, 660 ground graves, and 110 urn graves – a fairly dense use of a small plot of land, reflecting generations of residents from this part of Prague.

Why is it worth a visit?

Ruzyně Cemetery appeals to those who prefer quiet, historically grounded places over crowds. The neo-Gothic St. Wenceslas chapel and the 19th-century stone cross with its Crucifixion figure are the most notable architectural details, both dating from a time when Ruzyně was still an independent village rather than a district of a metropolis with an international airport. Walking its paths offers a different rhythm of the city, well away from Prague's tourist center.

Frequently asked questions

When was Ruzyně Cemetery founded? It was established around 1900 as the second cemetery in Ruzyně, intended for the Catholic residents of the village.

What is inside the cemetery chapel? A neo-Gothic chapel dedicated to St. Wenceslas, built of white stone in 1902–1903, serves as both chapel and mortuary. Its first mass was held on October 2, 1905.

How large is the cemetery, and how many graves does it have? The site covers 0.42 hectares and contains 30 crypts, 660 ground graves, and 110 urn graves.

Was the cemetery ever expanded? Yes – around 1943 a second section was added, located west of the chapel and mortuary.

How do you get to Ruzyně Cemetery? The cemetery sits on Pod Hřbitovem street in Prague 6 – Ruzyně, close to Václav Havel Airport, in a district well connected to the city center.