evangelický hřbitov

The Evangelical Cemetery in Kutná Hora is a small but historically significant Protestant burial ground tucked away on the northwestern edge of the city, along Gruntecká Street, in the direction of the village of Grunta. It sits northeast of the town's municipal cemetery, away from the usual tourist trail, which has left it with a quiet, contemplative atmosphere rarely disturbed by crowds.

Where did this cemetery come from?

The story begins in the late 19th century. In 1886 the local Evangelical community built its own church in Kutná Hora, and five years later, in 1891, a parish congregation of the Evangelical Reformed Church was formally established. Before the community had a burial ground of its own, its members were laid to rest either at the Evangelical cemetery in nearby Libenice or in a reserved section along the wall of the municipal Roman Catholic All Saints Cemetery, in its lower part.

How was the cemetery established?

The decision to found a dedicated Evangelical cemetery was made in the spring of 1896. A plot of land located just below the municipal cemetery was chosen for the purpose. The congregation did not actually purchase the site until 1908, paying 2,600 crowns for it, and only obtained a building permit the following year, in 1909. The cemetery itself opened in 1913, with its consecration taking place on 28 September of that year. The work was carried out by builder F. Hrivka on commission from the Kutná Hora Evangelical congregation. A small cemetery chapel was built in the same year, 1913, alongside the graveyard, and it remains one of the site's defining features today.

Who is buried here?

Among the graves at the Evangelical cemetery is that of Viktor Szalatnay (1866–1941), the first Evangelical pastor of Kutná Hora, who served the congregation from 1891 to 1939 — practically from its founding until the eve of the Second World War. Also buried here is J. B. Jeschke (1902–1977), a professor of practical theology at the Comenius Evangelical Theological Faculty from 1950 to 1970, and previously a long-serving pastor in Poděbrady from 1931 to 1961. Both men are directly tied to the history of 20th-century Czech Protestantism.

Why is it worth a visit?

The cemetery is not a major tourist draw compared to Kutná Hora's famous sights, such as St. Barbara's Church or the Sedlec Ossuary, but for anyone interested in the history of the Reformation and the Evangelical minority in Bohemia, it holds genuine significance. It is listed among sites connected to the Reformation, underlining its value as a record of local religious history. The quiet layout of the paths, the modest 1913 chapel, and the graves of clergymen who shaped the region's Evangelical community make this a place oriented toward reflection rather than mass tourism.

Frequently asked questions

When was the Evangelical cemetery in Kutná Hora founded? It opened and was consecrated on 28 September 1913, although the decision to establish it dates back to 1896, and the land was purchased in 1908.

Where exactly is it located? On the northwestern edge of Kutná Hora, along Gruntecká Street toward the village of Grunta, northeast of the municipal cemetery.

Who designed and built the cemetery? The work was carried out by builder F. Hrivka on behalf of the local Evangelical congregation.

Which notable people are buried there? Kutná Hora's first Evangelical pastor, Viktor Szalatnay (1866–1941), and theologian and longtime pastor J. B. Jeschke (1902–1977).

Is there a chapel on the cemetery grounds? Yes, a small cemetery chapel was built the same year as the cemetery itself, in 1913.