Hřbitov Ježov

Hřbitov Ježov is the parish cemetery of Ježov, a small village in the Hodonín district of the South Moravian Region in the Czech Republic. Set beside the local church, the burial ground carries traces of a settlement history stretching back to at least the 14th century.

How old is the village behind this cemetery?

Ježov is first documented in 1373, when the village belonged to a certain Vojtíšek of Ježov. In 1430, Boček of Woděrady sold the village, together with its parish and manor, to Artler of Zástřizl. The Zástřizl family went on to shape the village for generations, and its legacy is still visible right next to the church today.

Which church stands beside the cemetery?

The Church of St. James rises next to the hřbitov. Originally Gothic, it was rebuilt in Baroque style between 1677 and 1681, and later underwent further repairs — a major one in 1935 and a thorough renovation between 1967 and 1969. On the eastern edge of Ježov stands another, older building: a Gothic church dedicated to St. Lucy, a 4th-century martyr, founded by the Vyšehrad Chapter. Having two historic churches in such a small village signals how significant Ježov once was as a parish center.

What makes this cemetery distinctive?

Ježov's cemetery is one of the few places in Moravia where gravestones of the Zástřizl family have survived. The Zástřizls owned the village and surrounding estates for centuries, and their carved stone markers and epitaphs offer a rare surviving example of noble funerary art in the region — a detail that draws visitors interested in local aristocratic history and genealogy.

How did the cemetery change during the 20th century?

The present-day layout took shape between 1949 and 1961, when a new section was built behind the church to accommodate the village's growing population. Earlier, in 1939, preparations were already underway to expand the burial grounds, and a telephone line was installed at the cemetery around the same time — a small but telling sign of gradual modernization in village infrastructure.

Why is it worth a stop?

For anyone exploring the Kyjovské Slovácko region, Ježov's cemetery links sacred architecture with local noble genealogy in a single, quiet stop. Walking among the graves and around the Church of St. James shows how a modest village managed to sustain its own parish for centuries and preserve the memory of the families who shaped it. It is a calm, low-key site, but a rewarding one for anyone tracing the history of rural Moravia.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Hřbitov Ježov located? It lies in the village of Ježov, in the Hodonín district of the South Moravian Region, right next to the local parish church.

What is the cemetery's most notable feature? The preserved gravestones and epitaphs of the Zástřizl family, who owned the village from the 15th century onward — one of the few places in Moravia with such well-preserved traces of this noble family.

Which church stands next to the cemetery? The Church of St. James, originally Gothic and rebuilt in Baroque style in 1677–1681, with further repairs in 1935 and 1967–1969.

Is there another historic church in Ježov? Yes, a Gothic church dedicated to St. Lucy stands on the eastern edge of the village, founded by the Vyšehrad Chapter.

When was the new part of the cemetery built? The extension behind the church was constructed between 1949 and 1961.