hřbitov Líšná

Hřbitov Líšná is a small historic cemetery surrounding the standalone Church of St. Peter and Paul, tucked on a hillside between the villages of Líšná and Jablečno, right below the ruins of the medieval Řebřík castle, in the Zbiroh area of the Plzeň Region in the Czech Republic. Layers of several centuries of regional history come together here, making it a rewarding stop for anyone exploring the countryside around Zbiroh on foot or by bike.

Where does the name come from?

The name "Líšná" derives from an old Czech word describing a place overgrown with hazel bushes. The nearby village of Líšná was first documented in 1539, when King Ferdinand I of Habsburg permitted local subjects to attend the parish in Zbiroh. Before that, however, a different and now-vanished settlement stood right below Řebřík castle — and it was there, back in the Middle Ages, that the church now standing beside the cemetery was originally built.

What does the church next to the cemetery look like?

The Church of St. Peter and Paul was already mentioned in 1348 as the parish church of the settlement beneath Řebřík castle, a settlement that disappeared in the 16th century. The building visitors see today dates from 1728, when it was rebuilt in Baroque style to a design by the Prague architect Filip Spannbrucker, with construction carried out by builder Jakub Spineta from Příbram. The church stands alone along the road connecting Líšná and Jablečno, enclosed by a stone wall with a gate, and a wooden bell tower rises on the slope just above it. The church, its surrounding wall, and the bell tower are all protected today as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic.

Why did the church stop functioning as a parish church?

In 1841 the vault collapsed, forcing the roof to be removed, and the building began falling into disrepair. Residents of Líšná subsequently requested permission to build a new church directly in their village; it was completed in 1869–1870 and dedicated to St. Wenceslas. From then on, regular services moved to the new village church, while the older church by the cemetery was used only for special occasions. Every year, on the first Sunday of July, a pilgrimage feast (pouť) was held here, drawing visitors from the surrounding villages.

What can visitors see there today?

The grounds of the former parish church and its surrounding cemetery form a quiet, picturesque site: a stone wall, an entrance gate, and the distinctive wooden bell tower together create a compact historical ensemble. The setting near the ruins of Řebřík castle and the surrounding forest landscape make it easy to combine a walk to the castle ruins with a visit to the cemetery and church. The site is especially rewarding for visitors interested in regional history and sacred architecture — a modest but authentic place that still carries the traces of centuries of human presence in this part of the Plzeň Region.

Frequently asked questions

Can the cemetery and church be visited? The site sits along a public road between Líšná and Jablečno, and the grounds around the church and cemetery can be walked freely; the church interior is occasionally open, particularly during the annual pilgrimage feast on the first Sunday of July.

How do you get to hřbitov Líšná? The best starting point is the town of Zbiroh, from where a road leads toward Líšná and on to Jablečno — the church and cemetery sit directly along this stretch, beneath the slope holding the ruins of Řebřík castle.

Why does the church stand apart from the village? This reflects the area's settlement history: the original village for which the church was built in the Middle Ages stood directly below Řebřík castle and vanished in the 16th century, while today's village of Líšná was later established at a different location.