Jewish Cemetery in Liberec

The Jewish cemetery in Liberec stands on Ruprechtická street, on a slope just north of the city centre, as one of the most tangible remnants of a Jewish community that once thrived in northern Bohemia. Although Jewish presence in Liberec dates back to the 15th century, the local community had no burial ground of its own for centuries — the deceased were carried to nearby Turnov for interment.

When was the cemetery founded?

That changed in 1864, when a roughly 500 m² plot was purchased from a local landowner. The cemetery itself was formally established in 1865, finally giving the growing Jewish community in Liberec a dignified place to bury its dead close to home, ending decades of transporting bodies to Turnov.

Why was the cemetery enlarged?

The original plot proved too small within just two decades, as the community continued to grow. In 1886 the decision was made to expand the grounds, and as part of this expansion an Art Nouveau ceremonial hall was built at the front of the cemetery. The hall became a functioning part of the site around the turn of the 20th century, serving as the space for funeral rites before burial.

What happened to the cemetery during and after the war?

Before the Second World War, Liberec's Jewish community numbered around 1,700 people. The Holocaust devastated it almost completely — only about 37 members reportedly survived. In the decades that followed, under the communist regime, the cemetery suffered from years of neglect: between 1945 and 1981 no proper maintenance was carried out, more than half of the gravestones were toppled, and the ceremonial hall was repurposed, reportedly used as a coffee storage warehouse.

How was the cemetery restored?

The turning point came in 1992, when the then-chairman of the Jewish community pushed to have the cemetery and its buildings returned to Jewish ownership. Overgrown weeds were cleared, fallen tombstones were re-erected, and the exterior walls of the ceremonial hall were replastered. Since then the site has had regular caretaking, funded by the local Jewish congregation. In 2009 the interior of the ceremonial hall underwent a further transformation, becoming a Memorial to the Victims of the Shoah dedicated to Liberec's Jews who perished in the war.

What can visitors see today?

Today the Jewish cemetery in Liberec is protected as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic and remains an active burial ground as well as a place of remembrance. It lies roughly 900 metres north of the town hall, making it an easily reachable stop for anyone exploring the city centre, and its restored ceremonial hall offers visitors insight into both the architectural heritage and the tragic modern history of the community it once served.

Frequently asked questions

Where were Liberec's Jews buried before the cemetery existed? Until 1864, the deceased were transported to the Jewish cemetery in Turnov, since Liberec had no burial ground of its own.

What is inside the ceremonial hall? Since 2009, the Art Nouveau ceremonial hall built in 1886 has housed a Memorial to the Victims of the Shoah.

Is the cemetery still in use? Yes, following restoration that began in 1992, the cemetery receives regular care and functions both as a burial site and a protected cultural monument.

How far is the cemetery from the centre of Liberec? It is located about 900 metres north of the town hall, on Ruprechtická street.