Jewish cemetery in Chlistov

The Jewish cemetery in Chlistov is a small historic burial ground set on a wooded hill in the municipality of Chlistov, in the Klatovy district of the Plzeň Region, Czech Republic. Only a handful of gravestones remain, but the site is protected as a cultural monument and stands as a quiet trace of the Jewish community that once lived in the area.

How to get there?

Chlistov lies roughly 9 kilometers southeast of Klatovy and about 45 kilometers south of Plzeň. The cemetery sits on top of a forested hill, around 1–1.5 kilometers northeast of the village center, along a forest path heading toward Hradiště. Access is via a field track branching off a street in the northern part of Chlistov, at the point where a side route splits from the main road toward Srbice. There is no signage or information board on site, but the area is freely accessible — visitors can enter through a broken section of the surrounding wall or through a gate that no longer locks.

What will you see?

The cemetery was established in 1869 on a modest plot measuring about 15 by 20 meters. Only 15 gravestones have survived, a number that has remained unchanged since 1923 — a clear indicator of how little of the original burial ground has made it to the present day. The last burial likely took place in the first quarter of the 20th century.

The tombstones date mostly from the 19th century and are made of limestone, sandstone, and granite. They take the form of flat slabs or multi-part monuments, topped with rounded or pointed shapes. Inscriptions are carved in Hebrew, with some stones also bearing German text. A number of the markers feature traditional Jewish decorative symbolism typical of funerary art from that period.

The cemetery grounds are enclosed by a wall built of rough, unplastered quarried stone, ranging in height from about 0.2 to 1.5 meters — in places it has collapsed entirely. A gate remains set into the wall. Ruins of a former mortuary building are also visible within the grounds, evidence that the cemetery once functioned as a fully equipped burial site.

Why visit?

This is a destination for anyone interested in the history of Jewish communities in the Czech lands and in 19th-century funerary architecture. The isolated hilltop setting, away from any settlement, gives the cemetery a contemplative character — the absence of visitor infrastructure means the site is experienced in an almost untouched, raw state. Its status as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic underlines the historical value of the site despite its small size.

When to visit?

Given the forested, undeveloped surroundings, the best time to visit is from spring through early autumn, when the approach paths are dry and easier to walk. A daytime visit is advisable, since the site has no lighting or fencing that would make orientation easier after dark.

Frequently asked questions

When was the Jewish cemetery in Chlistov founded? The cemetery was established in 1869 on a hill northeast of the village.

How many gravestones have survived to this day? Fifteen gravestones remain, a number unchanged since 1923.

What are the tombstones made of, and in what languages are the inscriptions? The stones are made mainly of limestone, sandstone, and granite, with inscriptions in Hebrew and, on some stones, additional German text.

Is the cemetery signposted and easy to access? There is no signage on site, but the area is freely accessible through a broken section of the wall or an unlocked gate.