Jewish cemetery in Chrudim

The Jewish cemetery in Chrudim is a small but well-preserved burial ground that marks the former presence of a Jewish community in this East Bohemian town. It sits on Novoměstská Street, right next to the municipal cemetery, on the eastern edge of historic Chrudim.

When was the cemetery established?

The cemetery was founded in 1889 on a plot of 2,022 m². From the outset it was enclosed by a brick wall with a monumental entrance gate, giving it the character of an enclosed, dedicated sacred space. The same year saw the construction of an eclectic ceremonial hall on the grounds, which remains one of the site's principal architectural features today.

What survives on the grounds?

103 tombstones dating from 1890 to 1940 have survived to the present day — the oldest from the cemetery's founding year, the youngest from 1940, shortly before the occupation and deportations that brought an end to the local Jewish community. Some of the surviving pieces are only bases and borders, the tombstones themselves no longer intact. A commemorative plaque dedicated to the cemetery's founders was also destroyed and no longer exists.

Who is buried here?

Historical records name three individuals of particular significance to the local community: Mořic Goldschmidt, a teacher and rabbi; Josef Brietenfeld, an imperial councillor; and Emil Fuchs, head of the town's transportation office. Their graves are documented as evidence of the standing and significance the Jewish community held in Chrudim at the turn of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

How was the cemetery restored?

For decades after the Second World War, the cemetery received no systematic care — no maintenance funds were allocated to it at all until 1998. That changed in 1999, when restoration work began in earnest: overgrown vegetation and self-seeded trees, which had spread across the paths and gravestones over the years, were cleared, the ceremonial hall was repaired, and fallen matzevot were re-erected. Conservation work has continued in the years since, though parts of the site — the entrance gate, sections of the surrounding wall, and the ceremonial hall itself — still require further investment.

What protection status does it have?

The Jewish cemetery in Chrudim is listed as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic. This legal status shields it from further deterioration, and the restoration efforts underway since 1999 aim to preserve both the overall layout of the grounds and the individual tombstones for future generations.

Can visitors tour the cemetery?

Yes, though access is limited. The cemetery is freely open to visitors on Mondays from 8:00 to 17:00; on other days the gate remains locked. Anyone wishing to visit outside these hours should arrange access with the site's caretaker in advance.

Frequently asked questions

When was the Jewish cemetery in Chrudim founded? The cemetery was established in 1889 and has occupied the same plot on Novoměstská Street ever since.

How many tombstones remain at the site? 103 tombstones survive, dating from 1890 to 1940, though some consist only of bases without a complete matzevah.

Are any notable figures buried here? Yes — among those interred are rabbi and teacher Mořic Goldschmidt, imperial councillor Josef Brietenfeld, and transportation office head Emil Fuchs.

Is the cemetery legally protected? Yes, it is registered as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic and has undergone gradual restoration since 1999.

When can the cemetery be visited? It is open to the public on Mondays from 8:00 to 17:00; on other days the gate is closed.