Hřbitov Podolí

Hřbitov Podolí (Podolí Cemetery) is a small but historically significant burial ground in Prague's Podolí district, established in 1885 to serve the residents of the former municipalities of Podolí and Dvorce. Before that, burials in the area took place near the Church of St. Michael the Archangel; once the new cemetery opened, the old burial ground was closed and the land was later turned into a park, leaving little trace of its original purpose.

How did the cemetery grow over time?

By the early twentieth century, the original grounds had become too small for the community's needs. In 1912 the cemetery was doubled in size, and a new entrance was built on its southern side, opening onto Na Klaudiánce street. From this entrance, a central path leads directly to the cemetery chapel, which stands against the northern wall alongside the cemetery's administrative office.

What can visitors see on the grounds today?

Covering an area of 0.75 hectares, Hřbitov Podolí is divided into ten sections. It holds 12 family tombs, roughly 1,200 individual graves, and 250 urn graves. In the southeastern part of the cemetery stands a neo-Gothic burial chapel, one of the site's most distinctive architectural features.

Section six carries particular historical weight: it holds two monuments dedicated to members of the local Sokol organizations — Sokol Podolský and Sokol Pankrácký — who died in the First and Second World Wars. These modest memorials are a quiet reminder of the role the Sokol movement played in Czech history, and of the losses its members suffered across both conflicts.

Who manages the cemetery?

Hřbitov Podolí is today part of Prague's network of municipal cemeteries and funeral services, with direct administration handled by the Vinohrady Cemetery Authority. Despite its modest size compared to the capital's largest necropolises, it remains an active burial site and a well-tended part of the local landscape in Podolí.

Frequently asked questions

When was Hřbitov Podolí founded? The cemetery was established in 1885 for the residents of Podolí and Dvorce, replacing an earlier burial ground near the Church of St. Michael the Archangel.

How large is the cemetery? It covers 0.75 hectares and contains about 1,200 graves, 250 urn graves, and 12 family tombs.

What are the notable features on site? A neo-Gothic burial chapel in the southeastern section, and war memorials to fallen Sokol members in section six.

Where is the cemetery's entrance located? The main entrance, built in 1912, is on the southern side, accessed from Na Klaudiánce street.