Jewish cemetery in Nová Bystřice

The Jewish cemetery in Nová Bystřice is a modest yet historically important burial ground located in fields north of the town, on the right side of the road leading toward Číměř. It was established in 1878–1879, when the local Jewish community finally secured its own dedicated cemetery, having previously buried its dead in older cemeteries elsewhere in the region — most notably in nearby Jindřichův Hradec, which for decades served as the main burial site for several smaller Jewish communities in the area.

Why was the cemetery founded so late?

Nová Bystřice, situated close to the Lower Austrian border, did not have a large or wealthy enough Jewish community for much of its early history to justify maintaining its own burial ground. This changed in the second half of the 19th century, as legal liberalization and the growth of local trade allowed the community to consolidate and grow. Interestingly, once the cemetery was founded, it was used not only by residents of Nová Bystřice itself but also by Jews from neighboring communities on the Lower Austrian side of the border — a reminder of how fluid and cross-border the network of small Jewish communities in this borderland once was.

Who was Rabbi Hermann Steiner?

One of the most significant threads in the cemetery's history is tied to Rabbi Hermann Steiner. Between 1860 and 1904, a Jewish school operated in Nová Bystřice, where Steiner taught for many years, shaping the religious and cultural life of the local community. He died in 1922 and was buried in this cemetery together with his wife — their graves remain among the most recognizable features of the site today, a tangible link to the once-active religious life of this small town near the Czech-Austrian border.

What has survived to this day?

The cemetery did not escape the twentieth century unscathed. During World War II it was damaged by the Nazis, a fate shared by many similar Jewish cemeteries across the Sudetenland and Czech-Austrian borderlands. The site's southern wall, which once stood beside roughly one hundred tombstones, has not survived and is today replaced by a simple wooden fence. Despite these losses, 86 tombstones still stand on the grounds, preserving fragments of the story of the local Jewish community for anyone willing to look closely.

Can the cemetery be visited independently?

Yes — the site is freely accessible, with no need to arrange a visit in advance or obtain special permission. This makes it a worthwhile stop for anyone interested in the Jewish history of the Jindřichův Hradec district, as well as for travelers exploring the area around Nová Bystřice, often described as the gateway to Czech Canada (Česká Kanada).

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the cemetery located? In fields north of Nová Bystřice, on the right side of the road leading to Číměř.

When was the cemetery established? In 1878–1879.

How many tombstones survive today? 86 tombstones, although historically there were considerably more — the now-vanished southern wall alone once stood beside roughly a hundred graves.

Who is buried here? Among others, Rabbi Hermann Steiner (d. 1922), a longtime teacher at the local Jewish school active from 1860 to 1904, together with his wife, as well as Jews from neighboring communities on the Lower Austrian side of the border.

Is the cemetery open to the public? Yes, the site is freely accessible to visitors.

Was the cemetery damaged during the war? Yes, it was damaged by the Nazis during World War II.