Jewish cemetery in Hřivčice

The Jewish cemetery in Hřivčice ranks among the largest and best-preserved Jewish burial grounds in northwestern Bohemia. It lies roughly one kilometer south of the village of Hřivčice, within the administrative territory of Peruc, in the Louny region of the Czech Republic. Set among open fields and light woodland, away from major tourist routes, the site draws mainly visitors with a specific interest in the region's Jewish heritage rather than casual sightseers.

When was the cemetery founded?

The cemetery was established in the second half of the 17th century. The local burial society, Chevra Kadisha, traces its origins to 1640 according to a register of such societies compiled across the Austro-Hungarian monarchy in 1892, though the society's own statutes point to its oldest surviving protocols dating from 1652. The oldest preserved tombstone (maceva) on the site dates from 1759.

How many graves are here and how large is the site?

The cemetery covers an area of 3,163 square meters and holds around 300 surviving tombstones — a substantial number for a rural burial ground, reflecting the historical significance of the local Jewish community. The site's historical owner was the Israelite Burial Brotherhood for Hříškov and its surroundings; today the cemetery belongs to the Jewish Community of Teplice.

What happened to the cemetery after 1939?

Following 1939, as the local Jewish community was persecuted and displaced, the cemetery was left without care. Over the following decades it grew increasingly overgrown and fell into disrepair. That changed after 2008, when, according to local reports from Peruc, the Jewish Community of Teplice took an interest in restoring the site. Cooperation was established with a resident of Peruc, who managed to clear most of the invasive vegetation within a single year, revealing tombstones that had long been hidden.

What does the cemetery look like today?

Restoration work continued in the years that followed: a stone wall was built around the cemetery in autumn 2015, and although many tombstones remain toppled or damaged, the grounds are now far more visible and accessible than they were a decade or two ago. Ongoing maintenance and documentation are carried out by the Society for the Restoration of Jewish Monuments in Peruc.

Frequently asked questions

Is the cemetery open to visitors? The grounds are enclosed by a stone wall, but as a protected historical site the cemetery is periodically accessible to visitors, particularly around local events dedicated to the region's Jewish heritage.

Why is the cemetery so large for a small village? It served not only Hřivčice but the wider Jewish community of the area, including Hříškov, which explains why nearly 300 tombstones accumulated here over more than two centuries.

Who takes care of the site today? The Jewish Community of Teplice is the formal owner, while day-to-day upkeep and restoration work are handled by the local Society for the Restoration of Jewish Monuments in Peruc, with support from area residents.

How do you get to the cemetery? The cemetery lies about one kilometer south of Hřivčice, within the municipality of Peruc in the Louny district of northwestern Bohemia; it is best reached by car or on foot from the surrounding villages.