Jewish cemetery in Brumov-Bylnice

The Jewish cemetery in Brumov-Bylnice is a small, picturesque burial ground set on the Dubník hill, roughly half a kilometer northwest of the town center, along the road leading toward Valašské Klobouky. Surrounded by fields and woodland, away from any settlement, it has retained the quiet, secluded character it has always had.

When was the cemetery founded?

The cemetery was established around 1750, with the first written record of its existence dating from 1758. It served the local Jewish community for nearly two centuries, with the last recorded burial taking place in 1931. The oldest legible tombstone bears the date 1785, making it one of the earliest surviving traces of Jewish presence in this part of Moravia.

How many tombstones have survived?

Across an area of about 755 square meters, roughly 75 matzevot (tombstones) remain standing, carved from marble, granite and sandstone. Their inscriptions appear in Hebrew, German and Czech, reflecting the multilingual character of the former Jewish community on the Moravian-Slovak border. Fewer than a quarter of the stones are toppled or damaged, a comparatively good state of preservation for a cemetery of this age and size.

What happened to the cemetery after World War II?

Between 1945 and 1982 the site suffered vandalism, with gravestones knocked over or destroyed and the grounds left overgrown. The situation changed in 1985, when a comprehensive restoration took place: recovered matzevot were returned to their original positions, vegetation was cleared, and the surrounding wall and entrance gate were repaired. Since 1964 the cemetery has been listed as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic, granting it formal legal protection.

Is there a Holocaust memorial on site?

Yes. In 1993 a memorial plaque was unveiled at the cemetery, dedicated to the victims of the Holocaust from Brumov-Bylnice. It stands as an important marker commemorating the local Jewish community that ceased to exist as a result of the wartime extermination.

Who manages the cemetery today, and can it be visited?

The site is currently owned by the Jewish community of Brno. The cemetery is enclosed by a fence with a locking gate, but it remains freely accessible to visitors throughout the year, with no need to arrange a visit in advance. It is one of the few places in the region where the centuries-long presence of a Jewish community in the Wallachia area can still be seen firsthand.

Frequently asked questions

How do you get to the cemetery? It lies about 500 meters northwest of the northern edge of Brumov, along the road toward Valašské Klobouky, on the hill known as Dubník.

Is there an entrance fee? No, the cemetery is open to the public free of charge, though the grounds are fenced and the gate can be locked.

How old is the oldest tombstone? The oldest legible matzevah dates from 1785, although the cemetery itself was founded earlier, likely around 1750.

Is it worth combining with other nearby attractions? Yes — the cemetery sits close to hiking trails heading toward Valašské Klobouky, and the surrounding hills offer wide views over the Wallachia region and the border area with Slovakia.