Cemetery in Záběhlice

Záběhlický Cemetery is a small, quiet burial ground tucked into Prague's Záběhlice district, between Břečťanová and Jabloňová streets. Covering just 0.23 hectares, it holds four family tombs, 242 ground graves, and 31 urn graves. It's easy to miss on a map of Prague 10, yet it rewards visitors looking for a peaceful corner of the city with roots stretching back to the 19th century.

How did this cemetery come to be?

The current burial ground replaced an older one that stood next to the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, on the bank of the Hamerský Pond. When that original site could no longer serve its purpose, burials were moved to the present location between Břečťanová and Jabloňová. The oldest graves still standing here date from the second half of the 19th century, making the cemetery a witness to more than a century and a half of local history in Záběhlice — a village that was later absorbed into greater Prague.

What happened here during the 20th century?

The cemetery's story took a difficult turn in 1970, when burials were halted for sanitary and hygiene reasons and the site was slated for closure. This was a common fate for many small historic cemeteries in mid-century cities, as they gave way to new development or larger, centralized municipal burial grounds. Fortunately, Záběhlický hřbitov avoided that fate — it survived, even though no new burials took place for three decades. The turning point came in 2001, when burials resumed here, this time in the form of urn interments. As a result, the cemetery remains an active site of remembrance today, bridging its 19th-century origins with modern cremation practices.

Who is buried here?

Among the gravestones, two tombs stand out for their ties to the local economic history of Záběhlice. In the middle of the cemetery's rear wall stands the substantial tomb of the Václav Černý family, owners of a local large estate (velkostatkář). To the left of the entrance lies the tomb of the Švehla family, also landowners connected to this part of Prague. These two burial sites are a reminder that Záběhlice was an agricultural settlement for centuries before becoming one of many districts of an expanding metropolis.

Why is it worth a visit?

Záběhlický Cemetery isn't a tourist attraction in the classic sense — there are no monumental tombs of famous figures here, nor guided groups walking its paths. It's better suited to those interested in Prague's micro-history, genealogy, or simply a quiet spot away from the bustle of the city center. Its small size means a visit takes little time, but the density of history packed into it — from 19th-century beginnings, through decades of closure, to its reopening for urn burials — makes it an interesting stop for anyone exploring Prague 10 off the beaten path.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the cemetery located? Between Břečťanová and Jabloňová streets in the Záběhlice district, part of Prague 10.

Are burials still taking place here? Yes, urn burials have been possible since 2001; traditional ground burials were halted in 1970.

How large is the cemetery? It covers 0.23 hectares, making it one of the smaller cemeteries in Prague.

Who is buried here? Notable tombs belong to the Václav Černý and Švehla families, local landowners tied to the history of Záběhlice.