Evangelical cemetery in Pustá Kamenice

The Evangelical Cemetery in Pustá Kamenice is a small but historically meaningful burial site on the northeastern edge of this village in the Svitavy district, Pardubice Region, Czech Republic. Together with the neighbouring Church of Saint Anne, a separate Catholic cemetery, and the parsonage, it forms a compact ensemble set on elevated ground, clearly visible above the rest of the village.

What does the cemetery look like?

The burial ground follows a regular rectangular layout. Access is from the north, through a gate flanked by masonry pillars, and the entire perimeter is enclosed by a brick-faced wall. In the southwestern corner stands a small, plainly built mortuary house — a modest, functional structure once used to hold bodies temporarily before burial, a common feature of rural cemeteries in this part of the country.

Why does this small village have a separate evangelical cemetery?

A dedicated evangelical cemetery in such a small Czech village reflects the historical presence of a Protestant community in the area. Across the Pardubice Region and neighbouring districts, Catholic and Protestant residents were often buried in separate, though frequently adjoining, cemeteries — exactly the pattern seen in Pustá Kamenice, where the two burial grounds sit side by side next to the same parish church. This spatial arrangement is now valued as tangible evidence of the village's mixed religious history.

What else is worth seeing nearby?

The cemetery's closest neighbour is the Church of Saint Anne, the dominant landmark of the ensemble and the reference point around which the rest of the site is arranged. Pustá Kamenice itself lies within the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands (Vysočina), a region known for its rolling terrain, forested hills, and traditional timber and masonry rural architecture. It's an area well suited to combining visits to small but historically dense sacred sites with walking routes across the surrounding highlands.

Is the cemetery open to visitors?

As part of the living infrastructure of the parish, the evangelical cemetery in Pustá Kamenice remains an active burial ground — the plot is enclosed by a wall, and entry is through the marked northern gate. Visitors are expected to observe the usual respect due to a place of burial: keeping quiet, avoiding disruptive behaviour, and leaving the site undisturbed.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the Evangelical Cemetery in Pustá Kamenice located? On the northeastern edge of the village's built-up area, directly next to the Church of Saint Anne.

How does it differ from the nearby Catholic cemetery? The two cemeteries lie close together and, along with the church and parsonage, form a single historical ensemble, but they belong to two different denominations — Catholic and Evangelical — reflecting the region's mixed religious past.

What are the architectural features of the cemetery? A rectangular plan, a brick-faced perimeter wall, a north-facing gate flanked by masonry pillars, and a small mortuary house in the southwestern corner.

Are there other attractions nearby worth visiting? Yes — the surrounding Vysočina region offers landscapes typical of the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands: rolling hills, forests, and traditional rural architecture, making it a good base for longer walking trips.

Can the cemetery be visited independently? The site is accessible through its marked gate, but as an active burial ground it calls for appropriate respect and quiet behaviour from visitors.