Jewish cemetery in Liteň

The Jewish cemetery in Liteň is one of the best-preserved Jewish burial grounds in Central Bohemia, located in the small town of Liteň in the Central Bohemian Region, within the Podbrdsko area. On a plot of less than half a hectare, around 300 gravestones survive, some dating back to the late 17th century.

How to get there?

Liteň lies about 30 kilometers southwest of Prague, in the Brdy a Podbrdsko tourist area, known for routes linking historical sites with the forests and hills of central Bohemia. The town has a direct rail connection to Prague and Beroun, making it an easy destination for a day trip. The cemetery itself sits away from the main built-up area, in a quiet setting typical of rural Jewish burial grounds in the region.

What will you see?

The cemetery was founded in 1680 at the initiative of Count Kuňata of Bubna and Litice, the owner of the Liteň estate at the time. The immediate reason for establishing a dedicated burial ground was a plague outbreak that same year — the local Jewish community had previously had nowhere to bury its dead and had to petition for a plot within the boundaries of the Liteň manor. The grounds were subsequently enlarged in the 18th and 19th centuries as the number of burials grew.

The surviving gravestones — Baroque and Classicist in style — date from 1687 to 1939, with the last burials taking place at the start of World War II. This near-250-year continuity makes the cemetery a valuable record of the region's Jewish community. It served not only the Jews of Liteň itself but also those from surrounding villages: Praskolesy, Hostomice, Běštín, Všeradice, Beroun, Libomyšl, Svinaře, Suchomasty, Tetín, Tmaň, Koněprusy, and occasionally Hořovice. Among the gravestones are names of Jews expelled from Prague in 1744 under a decree issued by Maria Theresa.

In the 19th century, a gravedigger's house was built on the cemetery grounds, and in 1927 a ceremonial hall and mortuary were added — features typical of larger, well-organized Jewish cemeteries in Bohemia during that period.

A protected heritage site

Because of its good state of preservation and the historical value of its layout, the Liteň cemetery was listed as a Czech national cultural monument on May 3, 1958. Today it stands as one of the better-documented examples of a rural Jewish cemetery in the Central Bohemian region.

When to visit?

As an open-air site, the cemetery is best visited in spring and summer, when longer daylight hours make it easier to view the gravestones at a relaxed pace. It is worth checking access in advance, since Jewish cemeteries in the Czech Republic are often kept locked, and entry may require prior contact with the site's caretaker or the local municipal office.

Frequently asked questions

When was the Jewish cemetery in Liteň founded? It was established in 1680 at the initiative of Count Kuňata of Bubna and Litice, in response to a plague outbreak that left the local Jewish community without a place to bury its dead.

How many gravestones have survived? Around 300 Baroque and Classicist gravestones from 1687 to 1939 survive on a plot of less than half a hectare.

Who was buried at this cemetery? Besides residents of Liteň, it served Jewish communities from many surrounding villages, including descendants of Jews expelled from Prague in 1744 by Maria Theresa.

Is the cemetery legally protected? Yes — it has been listed as a Czech national cultural monument since May 3, 1958.