Hřbitov Blovice

Hřbitov Blovice is a Jewish cemetery established in 1683, standing today as one of the most tangible reminders of a Jewish community that once shaped daily life in this small town in the Plzeň-jih district of Bohemia. Quiet and rarely visited, the site preserves centuries of history dating back to the early 16th century, when the first Jewish settlers arrived in Blovice — likely connected to the expulsion of Jews from nearby Plzeň in 1504.

How did the Jewish community in Blovice begin?

Records confirm the existence of an organized Jewish community in Blovice before 1643, and it remained an active part of the town's social and economic fabric for roughly three centuries. The community developed despite the many legal and social restrictions historically placed on Jewish populations across Bohemia. Its formal existence ended in 1940, when German occupation authorities dissolved the community structure.

What can be seen at the cemetery today?

The burial ground covers an area of approximately 1433 m² and is protected as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic. Close to 350 gravestones survive on the site, with the oldest legible ones dating from the turn of the 17th and 18th centuries. Inscriptions were carved primarily in Hebrew and German, while later stones also feature Czech text. The stones display floral and ornamental motifs, and some reference the profession of the deceased or use animal symbols tied to their name. Clusters of grapes, a traditional symbol of wisdom, also appear among the decorative elements.

When did the last burial take place?

The last documented burial at the cemetery occurred in 1938, shortly before the outbreak of World War II, which abruptly ended the continuity of the local Jewish community.

What happened to the community during the war?

Deportations of Blovice's Jewish residents took place on 15 and 22 January 1942. None of the 25 Jewish citizens deported at that time returned after the war. The cemetery remains the most lasting physical trace of a community that had shaped the town's history for more than three hundred years.

Frequently asked questions

When was the cemetery in Blovice founded? The cemetery was established in 1683 and served as the burial ground for the local Jewish community from that point onward.

How many gravestones remain today? Around 350 gravestones survive on the site, including a number of legible stones dating from the turn of the 17th and 18th centuries.

Is the cemetery still in use? No — the last burial took place in 1938, and the Blovice Jewish community formally ceased to exist in 1940.

What protected status does the cemetery have? The site is listed as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic due to its historical and architectural significance.

What languages appear on the gravestone inscriptions? Inscriptions are mainly in Hebrew and German, with Czech appearing on the more recent gravestones.