Former city cemetery in Liberec

Former city cemetery in Liberec now survives as a quiet park just north of the historic town centre, though for well over a century it served as the town's principal burial ground. Laid out in 1832, it remained in use until the mid-20th century, and its most valuable tombs were later gathered into a dedicated "Garden of Remembrance."

When was the cemetery established and how was it laid out?

The cemetery was founded in 1832 on a rectangular plan running from southwest to northeast, with the main entrance on the southwest side. It covered roughly 2.5 hectares. Even before 1843 the grounds were extended further south and east, a sign that the growing town quickly outgrew its original burial space.

When did burials end, and what happened to the site afterwards?

Burials continued here until 1956. Once the cemetery closed, the grounds briefly served as a marketplace, and the imposing Liebieg family tomb was even used for a time to store vegetables. That interim use did not last long: in 1964 the whole area was turned into a municipal park.

What survives from the old cemetery today?

In the eastern part of the new park, a section known as the Garden of Remembrance (Zahrada vzpomínek) was set aside for the site's most valuable, protected monuments. To the right of the main staircase stands the tomb of the Liebieg family, the industrialist barons who built much of Liberec's textile-based wealth. To the left is the tomb of Adolf Hübner, a local municipal builder. The park also preserves a 19th-century war memorial, a reminder of the region's turbulent history under the Austro-Hungarian monarchy.

Why is it worth a visit?

The site works both as a green pocket of calm in the middle of the city and as a small open-air record of Liberec's past. Walking its paths, visitors can still see stonework and tombs nearly two centuries old, kept in place even after the cemetery's original purpose disappeared. For anyone interested in the industrial history of Liberec, and in the Liebieg family in particular, whose fortunes shaped the town's 19th-century growth, this is one of the few spots where that history is still physically visible.

Frequently asked questions

Are burials still taking place at the former city cemetery? No. Burials ended in 1956, and the entire area has functioned as a public park since 1964.

What is the Garden of Remembrance? It is the eastern section of the park where the cemetery's most valuable historic tombs and stonework were preserved, including the Liebieg family tomb and the tomb of builder Adolf Hübner.

Whose tomb is the most notable here? The tomb of the Liebieg family, industrialist barons who played a central role in Liberec's economic development.

Is the site protected as a historic monument? Yes, the surviving elements of the former cemetery are protected as a cultural heritage site.