Jewish cemetery in Loštice

The Jewish cemetery in Loštice is one of the oldest and best-preserved sites of Jewish heritage in Moravia, tucked away on a hillside in a spot known as Hájek, well apart from the town center and the former Jewish quarter.

When was the cemetery established?

The cemetery is first documented in 1554, though it likely came into existence a little earlier. Local nobility set aside a sloping plot of land for burials, deliberately positioned away from the town's built-up area. A Jewish community had already taken root in Loštice by the mid-16th century and would go on to become one of the more substantial ones in this part of Moravia.

How old is the oldest surviving tombstone?

The oldest preserved tombstone dates back to 1718, though most of the several hundred surviving gravestones come from the 19th and early 20th centuries. Inscriptions are carved primarily in Hebrew and German, with some also in Czech — reflecting the multilingual character of the local Jewish community over the centuries. The stones are made of marble, granite, and sandstone, and the majority remain in their original positions.

How large was the local Jewish community?

The Jewish community in Loštice reached its peak in the mid-19th century, numbering 438 residents in 1848. Over the following decades the population steadily declined as families migrated to larger cities, so that by the early 20th century only around 55 members remained. Despite the shrinking congregation, the cemetery stayed in use right up until the Holocaust.

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

The last known burial took place in 1942, just before the occupying authorities deported the local Jewish population. After the war, only members of a single family from the entire pre-war community returned to Loštice — the rest perished in the Holocaust. Left abandoned, the cemetery was exposed to decay and vandalism for decades, particularly in the postwar period.

Can the cemetery be visited today?

The burial ground covers nearly 6,500 square meters and remains the property of the Jewish community of Olomouc. The site is partly overgrown and has a secluded, untended feel, accessible through a masonry wall and a gate. In 1990, following the fall of communism, restoration and clean-up work was carried out, helping preserve the cemetery's historical character. Today the site is legally protected as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic and stands as a valuable testament to centuries of Jewish presence in Moravia.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the cemetery located? On a hillside in the area known as Hájek, set apart from the center of Loštice and the former Jewish quarter.

How many tombstones have survived? Estimates put the number at several hundred, up to around 500 gravestones, most still standing in their original locations.

Can visitors explore the cemetery on their own? The site is accessible, though it lacks information panels or tourist infrastructure — visitors should treat the place with appropriate respect.

Who manages the cemetery today? It is formally owned by the Jewish community of Olomouc.