Hřbitov Kostice

Hřbitov Kostice is a small village cemetery in the municipality of Kostice, located in the South Moravian Region within the Břeclav district. Rarely visited by tourists, it offers a modest but genuine example of how a rural Moravian community has cared for the burial site of its residents for over a century and a half, reflecting broader changes that small villages in the region went through during the 19th and 20th centuries.

When was the cemetery in Kostice established?

The cemetery was founded in 1874. At that time, establishing a dedicated burial ground away from the village center was a common step for communities in the region, as earlier burials had typically taken place around parish churches, while population growth and sanitary standards of the era pushed municipalities to designate separate cemetery grounds.

How did the cemetery's layout change during the 20th century?

The most significant transformation took place in the 1940s, when the arrangement of graves was reorganized and burials began to follow a system of individual rows. This work was carried out by Jan Tichý and Ludvík Úlehla, who are credited with giving the cemetery the orderly appearance it retains today. Thanks to their efforts, the Kostice cemetery still has a clear, structured layout typical of rural cemeteries renovated during that period.

What structures can be found on the cemetery grounds?

In 1976, the municipality built a funeral hall at the cemetery entrance, which continues to serve residents of Kostice during funeral ceremonies. The grounds also feature a main cemetery cross, which underwent professional restoration in 2009 — a typical element of Moravian Catholic cemeteries, serving as a central reference point within the burial layout.

Has the cemetery been modernized in recent years?

Yes. Between 2005 and 2006, permanent stone pathways were built throughout the cemetery, and in 2012 the main cemetery walkway was repaired and repaved. These investments show that, despite its modest size, the municipality treats the cemetery's upkeep as an ongoing part of caring for the village's public space.

Why is this cemetery worth noting?

Hřbitov Kostice is not a tourist attraction in the conventional sense, but for those interested in local history, sepulchral architecture, or genealogy connected to the Břeclav region, it can be a meaningful stop. Its orderly row-based layout and the preserved 1976 funeral hall offer a glimpse into how funerary infrastructure in a small Moravian village developed and was maintained over more than 150 years.

Frequently asked questions

When was the cemetery in Kostice founded? The cemetery was established in 1874.

Who reorganized the layout of the graves? In the 1940s, Jan Tichý and Ludvík Úlehla carried out this work.

Is there a chapel on the cemetery grounds? Yes, a funeral hall was built at the cemetery entrance in 1976.

Is the cemetery maintained and modernized? Yes — stone pathways were laid between 2005 and 2006, and the main walkway was renovated in 2012. The main cemetery cross was restored in 2009.