Jewish cemetery in Krnov

The Jewish cemetery in Krnov is one of the few surviving traces of the once-active Jewish community in this part of Czech Silesia. The burial ground sits at the foot of Cvilín hill, on land the community purchased in 1873. The first burials likely took place the following year, since 1874 is the date inscribed on the oldest surviving tombstones.

How did the Jewish community in Krnov come about?

The Jewish congregation was formally established in 1853, growing out of earlier waves of settlers who moved into Krnov during the 19th century, many of them from the nearby village of Osoblaha. Before acquiring its own burial ground, the community had to rely on cemeteries outside the town, which is why the 1873 land purchase under Cvilín hill marked such a significant milestone.

Who was buried here?

Over the century the cemetery was in use, more than 500 people were laid to rest there. They came not only from Krnov itself but also from Bruntál, Rýmařov, Osoblaha and surrounding villages, including some located on the Prussian side of Silesia. A particularly striking chapter unfolded during the First World War, when Jewish refugees from Galicia and Bukovina, displaced by the Russian offensive, were also buried at the site.

What do the tombstones look like?

The cemetery shows no single stylistic uniformity. Only a minority of the graves are traditional "pre-emancipation" style Jewish desk tombstones bearing Hebrew inscriptions. Most of the later markers instead resemble the tombstone forms typically found in Christian cemeteries of the period, with inscriptions gradually shifting to German — a reflection of the community's cultural assimilation over time. Among the most valuable features is an Art Nouveau tumba dating from 1910, notable for its artistic craftsmanship.

What happened to the cemetery during and after the Second World War?

The war left a clear mark on the site: the funeral hall was burned down, while the town's synagogue, once stripped of its religious symbols, was converted into a market hall. The cemetery itself survived and technically remained in use until the 1970s, although the number of postwar burials was very low given how drastically the local Jewish community had shrunk.

Why did the cemetery stop functioning as a burial site?

In the second half of the 1980s, under pressure from the communist authorities of the time, the cemetery was formally disestablished. Many of its most valuable tombstones were sold off to stoneworking companies, permanently diminishing the historical fabric of the site.

Frequently asked questions

When was the Jewish cemetery in Krnov established? The land was purchased in 1873, and the first burials most likely took place in 1874.

How many people are buried there? Over the entire period the cemetery operated, more than 500 people from Krnov and nearby communities were buried there.

Can the cemetery be visited today? The site today primarily serves as a historical and commemorative place, documenting the presence of a Jewish community in this part of Silesia up until its near-total disappearance in the 20th century.

What is the most valuable monument at the cemetery? The Art Nouveau tumba from 1910 is generally considered the site's most artistically significant feature.