Jewish cemetery in Hoštice

The Jewish cemetery in Hoštice is a small, no-longer-active burial ground located about one kilometer northwest of the village of Hoštice, in the South Bohemian region of the Czech Republic. Set on a hillside at the edge of a forest, it served as the resting place for Jewish residents of nearby Volyně and surrounding settlements that had no burial ground of their own.

When was the cemetery established?

The cemetery dates back to the years 1725–1735, a period when a small Jewish community began forming in Hoštice — the first written mention of a local prayer house appears as early as 1724. During the first half of the 19th century, the village was home to between 11 and 13 Jewish families; by 1828 this amounted to roughly 91 people, close to 30% of Hoštice's total population. During this era the Jewish community was a meaningful part of village life, and the cemetery served as its principal burial site for well over a century.

What happened to the Jewish community in Hoštice?

In the second half of the 19th century the situation began to shift, as Jewish families gradually relocated to larger towns in search of better economic opportunities. The local synagogue was closed and the religious congregation was formally dissolved by the end of the century. The last Jewish residents left Hoštice in 1902, marking the definitive end of organized Jewish life in the village. The final burials in the cemetery most likely took place around this same period, in the latter half of the 19th century.

What does the cemetery look like today?

The site covers 543 square meters and is enclosed by a wall built of rough-hewn quarry stone. Around 50 tombstones remain visible today, bearing dates ranging from 1735 to the 19th century — allowing visitors to trace the community's history from its earliest years almost to its final chapter. For decades the cemetery suffered from neglect: until the late 1990s there were no funds available for its upkeep, and dense vegetation gradually overtook the grounds while the stone wall deteriorated.

Has the cemetery been restored?

The turning point came in 2000, when restoration work finally began. Overgrown vegetation covering the tombstones and grounds was cleared, and repair work started on the surrounding stone wall. The conservation effort has continued in stages over the following years, since the site — like many forgotten Jewish cemeteries across the region — requires ongoing maintenance to prevent nature and time from undoing the progress made.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the Jewish cemetery in Hoštice located? About 1 km northwest of the village center, on a hillside at the edge of a forest, in the South Bohemian region of the Czech Republic.

How many tombstones have survived? Around 50 tombstones are still visible, with dates ranging from 1735 to the 19th century.

When was the last burial? Most likely in the second half of the 19th century, as the local Jewish community was shrinking.

Is the cemetery maintained today? Since 2000, restoration work has cleared overgrown vegetation and repaired the stone wall, though the site still requires regular upkeep.