Jewish cemetery in Kamenice nad Lipou

The Jewish cemetery in Kamenice nad Lipou is among the better-preserved remnants of the once-thriving Jewish community in the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands. It sits on Antonka hill, roughly 1.5 km northeast of the town center along road II/639, and today holds protected status as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic — a quiet, atmospheric stop for anyone tracing the region's Jewish heritage.

How far back does Jewish settlement in the town go?

Jewish presence in Kamenice nad Lipou is documented as early as before 1603. Over the following centuries the community grew into a recognizable local presence; by 1904, 163 Jews lived in Kamenice and the surrounding villages. Like many small-town Jewish communities in Bohemia, it combined religious life with local trade, though its numbers gradually declined in the following decades.

When was the cemetery founded, and how long was it used?

The cemetery on Antonka hill was established in 1803. It served the local Jewish community almost continuously until the outbreak of World War II. The Jewish community of Kamenice nad Lipou formally ceased to exist in 1940, marking the end of burials at the site.

What happened to the cemetery after the war?

The postwar decades were harsh on the site. Vandals tore down the stone wall enclosing the cemetery, destroyed the ceremonial hall, and damaged numerous headstones. For years the grounds fell into neglect and disrepair — a fate shared by many abandoned Jewish cemeteries across postwar Czechoslovakia.

How was the cemetery eventually restored?

Restoration efforts began in 1987. The work was not fully completed during the lifetime of Pavel Roubal, one of the local advocates who championed the project, and was finished in the 1990s by a group of volunteers, including Roubal's sons. In 1991 the enclosing wall was rebuilt and the restoration of the entire cemetery grounds was completed, including re-erecting fallen tombstones. The result is the orderly, well-kept site visitors encounter today.

How many gravestones survive, and what can visitors see?

Across an area of 1,049 square meters, around 150 matzevahs (tombstones) have been preserved, the oldest dating to 1807. Several stones display Empire-style ornamentation, offering a glimpse into how sepulchral art evolved through the 19th and early 20th centuries. Information boards at the entrance provide background on the site's history.

Is there a memorial at the cemetery?

Yes. In May 1996, a memorial plaque was unveiled at the cemetery bearing the names of 47 people tortured to death in concentration camps. The plaque transforms the cemetery from a burial ground alone into a lasting memorial to the Holocaust victims connected to Kamenice nad Lipou and its surroundings.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the cemetery located? On Antonka hill, about 1.5 km northeast of Kamenice nad Lipou, along road II/639.

Is the cemetery open to visitors? Yes, as a protected cultural monument it can be visited, with information boards available at the entrance.

How many tombstones remain? Around 150, spread over just over a thousand square meters, the oldest dating from 1807.

Is there a memorial on site? Yes, a 1996 plaque commemorating 47 victims of the concentration camps.