Jewish cemetery in Kladno

The Jewish cemetery in Kladno is a small but well-preserved burial ground on Slánská Street, right next to the town's municipal cemetery. It was established in 1889 as the local Jewish community grew alongside Kladno's rapid industrialization in the second half of the 19th century.

Where did Kladno's Jewish community come from?

Organized Jewish life in Kladno dates back to at least 1864, a period when the town was booming thanks to its coal mining and metallurgical industries. This growth drew new residents to the area, including Jewish families who settled and built a communal life. The community reached its peak around 1900, when roughly 430 people of Jewish faith lived in Kladno. By 1930 that number had fallen to about 210, mirroring a broader trend of migration toward larger centers, above all Prague.

What does the cemetery look like today?

The grounds still hold nearly two hundred surviving tombstones. Not all of the site remains in active use — the unused portion now functions as a garden area. The cemetery sits about 900 meters northeast of the town center along Slánská Street. Its upkeep is handled by a paid caretaker funded by the Jewish Community of Prague, and local Jewish groups have historically contributed maintenance work: straightening and cleaning gravestones, clearing overgrown vegetation, and repairing the gate and the roof of the funeral hall.

What is the 1938 ceremonial hall?

The cemetery preserves a functionalist ceremonial hall designed by architects Gerstl and Müldorf. Built just before the outbreak of the Second World War, the building took on major importance for the community's religious life: after German troops entered Kladno in March 1939 and the local synagogue was handed over to the Hussite church in an effort to spare it from destruction, daily services were moved to this funeral hall at the cemetery. It served that purpose until 1941. Today the building belongs to the municipal cemetery administration and is leased to a funeral services company.

What happened to the Jewish community after 1939?

The German occupation that began in March 1939 marked the start of persecution against Kladno's Jews, and the community was almost entirely destroyed in the years that followed. Today, in a town of several tens of thousands of residents, fewer than ten Jewish people live in Kladno. The cemetery stands as one of the few remaining physical traces of this once-established community.

Is the caretaker's house being restored?

The caretaker's house adjacent to the cemetery is currently being prepared for reconstruction, an effort aimed at improving the overall condition of the site and supporting its long-term maintenance.

Frequently asked questions

When was the Jewish cemetery in Kladno founded? Burials began here in 1889.

How many tombstones survive at the cemetery? Close to two hundred gravestones remain on the grounds.

Can visitors access the cemetery? The site is an active, maintained cemetery rather than a ruin, though seasonal overgrowth can occasionally make access difficult.

Who maintains the cemetery today? A caretaker funded by the Jewish Community of Prague is responsible for its upkeep.