Jewish cemetery in Blevice

The Jewish cemetery in Blevice is one of the better-preserved sites of its kind in Central Bohemia, sitting on the southern edge of the village along a forest road leading toward Mozolín. Shaded by old trees and set in the quiet countryside near Kladno, it draws visitors interested in the region's Jewish history and in old burial grounds more broadly.

How old is the cemetery?

The cemetery was most likely established in the first half of the 17th century, making it one of the older Jewish burial sites in the region. The oldest legible tombstone dates from 1720, though burials may have begun earlier. In 1890 the grounds were expanded and enclosed with a new wall, reflecting a growing number of burials over time. The last known burial took place in 1945, closing out nearly three centuries of continuous use.

Which Jewish community administered it?

From the mid-18th century, the cemetery belonged to the Jewish religious community of Ješín. In the 20th century, administration passed to the Jewish community of Velvary. Several smaller Jewish communities from nearby villages, within a few kilometers of Blevice, also used the cemetery over the decades, underlining its role as a shared burial ground for the wider area rather than for Blevice alone.

What has survived on site?

Roughly 300 tombstones remain today, spanning more than two centuries from the early 18th century through the first half of the 20th century. The grounds also include a cemetery house, likely built around 1884, which served as the gravedigger's residence. Its façade bears a Hebrew inscription, "me'afar le'afar" ("from dust to dust"), echoing the biblical phrase about mortality. Above the entrance gate, the year 1885 is engraved, likely marking construction or renovation work carried out around that time.

Why visit this site?

Beyond its function as a burial ground, the Blevice cemetery stands as a record of centuries-long Jewish presence in the Kladno region. The weathered tombstones, many softened by moss and time, create an atmospheric setting where history and nature intertwine. The site is protected as a cultural monument, underscoring its significance to local heritage.

Frequently asked questions

Can the cemetery be visited? The site is a protected cultural monument and can be visited, though as with many such places, visitors should treat the grounds respectfully and stay on marked paths.

How many tombstones have survived? About 300 gravestones remain, with the oldest legible one dating to 1720.

When was the last burial here? The last known burial took place in 1945.

Which community was responsible for the cemetery? Originally the Jewish community of Ješín, and from the 20th century onward, the community of Velvary.