Jewish cemetery in Blovice

The Jewish cemetery in Blovice is one of the most tangible remnants of a once-active Jewish community in the Plzeň region, tucked away in overgrown terrain on the eastern edge of town, just below the dam of a local reservoir. Though difficult to locate today without directions, it served as a burial ground for generations of local Jewish families for over two and a half centuries.

When was the cemetery established?

The cemetery was founded in 1683, though Jewish settlers had arrived in Blovice much earlier — at the start of the 16th century, likely connected to the expulsion of Jews from nearby Plzeň in 1504. A local Jewish community is documented as existing before 1643, gradually becoming more organized through the mid-17th century. In September 1762, the cemetery grounds were expanded, reflecting a growing Jewish population in the town at the time.

What happened to the Jewish community over the centuries?

Life for Blovice's Jewish residents was far from easy. In 1747, eleven Jewish families were expelled from the town under restrictive laws designed to limit the number of Jews allowed to live there — they were barred from purchasing additional houses, trading in hay or timber, and raising cattle. Despite these setbacks, the community endured for generations. In the second half of the 19th century, however, many Jews began relocating to larger cities in search of better economic opportunities, gradually shrinking the local population. By the 1930s, only around 25 people of Jewish descent remained in Blovice.

What happened during the occupation?

The fate of Blovice's Jewish community was sealed during the Second World War. The community formally ceased to exist in 1940, and deportations to concentration camps took place on January 15 and 22, 1942. None of the 25 deported residents survived to return home. The last burial in the cemetery had taken place just a few years earlier, in 1938.

What remains at the cemetery today?

The cemetery covers an area of over 1,430 square meters and preserves roughly 350 tombstones, though the site is in poor condition — heavily overgrown, with many gravestones damaged or tilted. The oldest legible inscriptions, found in the older eastern section, date from the turn of the 17th and 18th centuries. Despite its neglected state, the site is protected today as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the cemetery located? About one kilometer east of the center of Blovice, on a slope beneath the dam of the local reservoir.

Is the cemetery open to visitors? The site is technically accessible but heavily overgrown and hard to find without preparation — bringing a detailed map or GPS navigation is advisable.

How many tombstones have survived? An estimated 350 gravestones remain, though many are in poor condition.

Is it worth visiting? For anyone interested in the Jewish history of the Plzeň region, this quiet, modest site offers an authentic glimpse into the story of a small but centuries-old community.