Hřbitov Tvarožná

The Tvarožná cemetery (Hřbitov Tvarožná) is a small parish cemetery in the village of Tvarožná, roughly 10 kilometers east of Brno in South Moravia. It is not a headline tourist attraction on its own, but it rewards a short stop thanks to its distinctive entrance gate, one of the more unusual small pieces of sacred architecture in the area.

Where is the cemetery located?

The cemetery sits in the center of Tvarožná, on a plot of about 1,782 square meters. The village lies on the border between the Drahany Highlands and the Dyje–Svratka valley, at elevations reaching up to 400 meters, with the Tvaroženský stream running through the area. Tvarožná today has around 1,355 residents. Historically, the village grew out of two separate settlements, Tvarožnice and Važanice, which merged into a single community in the 15th century. The first written record of Tvarožnice — recorded as "Twarszonicz" — dates back to 1288.

What stands out about the cemetery gate?

The most notable architectural feature of the cemetery is its entrance gate, rebuilt in 1994 and put into service that August during the village's annual local feast (pouť). The structure was not designed from scratch at that time — it followed original plans drawn up back in 1946. The design concept came from an architect named Klimeš, while the actual construction was carried out by Josef Daněk from the nearby village of Blažovice.

The gate is made of smooth cast concrete and takes the form of a broken arch decorated with reliefs and topped with a cross. Narrower side entrances flank the main passage, each covered by a flat roof. Taken together, the composition evokes the silhouette of a small Gothic church — an unusual architectural choice for what is, functionally, just a cemetery gate.

What memorial plaque is attached to the gate?

On the right side of the entrance, mounted on the cemetery wall, is a memorial plaque dedicated to Lieutenant Colonel Emil Kalába. Unlike many war memorials in the region, which typically stand as freestanding monuments in village squares or in front of schools, this one is built directly into the gate through which visitors enter the burial ground.

How does Tvarožná connect to the region's larger history?

Although the cemetery itself is a modest, local structure, the village of Tvarožná holds a notable place in Central European history. The Santon hill within the municipality was a key strategic position during the 1805 Battle of Austerlitz, occupied by the French general Claparède and his 17th infantry regiment. A chapel dedicated to Our Lady of the Snows, built in 1832, still crowns the summit of Santon today, and a replica French cannon commemorates the Napoleonic-era fighting. The village also has a neo-Gothic Church of Saint Nicholas, built between 1880 and 1881.

Why is this cemetery worth a visit?

The Tvarožná cemetery will appeal more to travelers interested in sacred architecture and local history than to those chasing headline sights. The modest but carefully designed neo-Gothic-style gate, paired with a memorial plaque to a local military officer, shows how small Moravian communities built their own places of memory over decades — from a design drawn up in 1946 to its construction nearly half a century later, in 1994.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the cemetery in Tvarožná located? In the center of the village of Tvarožná, about 10 kilometers east of Brno in South Moravia.

When was the cemetery's entrance gate built? It was constructed in 1994, but based on plans originally drawn up in 1946 by the designer Klimeš; the builder was Josef Daněk from Blažovice.

Who is commemorated on the plaque by the gate? A memorial plaque on the right side of the gate is dedicated to Lieutenant Colonel Emil Kalába.

What architectural style is the cemetery gate built in? The gate is made of smooth cast concrete, shaped as a broken arch with reliefs and a cross, in a style reminiscent of a small Gothic church.

Are there other historical sites nearby? Yes — Tvarožná is home to Santon hill, a key site of the 1805 Battle of Austerlitz, with a chapel from 1832 and a replica French cannon, as well as the neo-Gothic Church of Saint Nicholas built in 1880–1881.