Hřbitov u kostela sv. Martina

Hřbitov u kostela sv. Martina (Cemetery at the Church of St. Martin) in Luleč is a small churchyard cemetery set on a hill southwest of the village, in the South Moravian Region, Vyškov district, about 7 km from the town of Vyškov at the foot of the Drahany Highlands. The site combines a religious function with a burial ground, and the hill it sits on carries traces of settlement far older than the church and cemetery themselves.

Where exactly is the cemetery located?

The cemetery surrounds the Church of St. Martin, built on the edge of a flat elevation known as Liliová hora (Lily Hill). This same hill was once the site of a prehistoric hillfort and, later, a medieval castle belonging to Luleč. Today only traces of those earlier structures remain in the terrain, while the church and its adjoining cemetery still stand as a visible part of the landscape and local identity.

How old is the cemetery?

The church itself first appears in written sources at the start of the 15th century, with the earliest mention dating to 1406, when it is recorded together with the castle. The churchyard cemetery, however, is older than the surviving records suggest: burials have taken place here since ancient times, likely predating the written documentation and going back to when an earlier Gothic church stood on the site.

Who was buried here?

A notable feature of this cemetery is that it served more than just the village of Luleč. Burials also came from the neighboring villages of Nemojany and Tučapy, and formerly from Píštovice as well. This points to the church and its cemetery functioning as a central religious point for several surrounding villages before each developed its own burial ground.

What happened to the church in the 18th century?

While the cemetery and the hill itself trace back to the medieval period, the church's current appearance is the result of a thorough Baroque rebuilding. In 1751, construction of a new church on Liliová hora began at the initiative and expense of Luleč's parish priest, Fr. Martin Dvořanský, who devoted his entire inherited estate to the project. The original Gothic structure was partially demolished, and between 1751 and 1753 it was replaced by the current late Baroque Church of St. Martin. The cemetery remained part of this sacred complex throughout the rebuilding.

What is the site's status today?

The church, together with its surroundings including the adjoining cemetery, is protected today as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic. The layering of history here — a prehistoric hillfort, a medieval castle, a Gothic church, and a Baroque reconstruction — makes it a compelling stop for anyone interested in the history of the Vyškov region, while its quiet hilltop setting above the village gives it the contemplative character typical of rural Moravian churchyard cemeteries.

Frequently asked questions

Is the cemetery open to visitors? As a village churchyard, it is customarily accessible to visitors during daytime hours, like most rural Moravian cemeteries.

Were residents of other villages buried here too? Yes — besides Luleč, the cemetery also served Nemojany and Tučapy, and formerly Píštovice.

How old is the church next to the cemetery? The church is first mentioned in 1406, while its current Baroque form dates from the rebuilding of 1751–1753.