Jewish cemetery in Příbram

The Jewish cemetery in Příbram is a small but historically dense burial ground on the northeastern edge of the town, along Dobříšská street on the road out toward Prague. Although Jewish settlement in Příbram dates back to the 13th century, the cemetery itself is much younger — it was only established in 1879, after the community had resettled in the town in the mid-19th century.

Why was the cemetery founded so late?

The history of Příbram's Jewish community is marked by a centuries-long gap. The earliest records of Jewish settlement date to 1238, making it one of the oldest in the Czech lands. In 1568, however, Jews were expelled from the town, and it was not until 1853 that the first Jewish family returned to Příbram. The location of the town's medieval Jewish cemetery is unknown, its trace lost along with the expelled community. The new cemetery was therefore founded shortly after the community re-established itself and began to grow: by 1880 there were 332 Jewish residents, by 1900 the number had risen to 415, and by 1930, 215 people identified with Jewish heritage in Příbram.

What survives at the cemetery today?

On a plot of roughly 3,283 square meters, about 150 well-preserved gravestones remain. The site is carefully maintained, and the last burial took place in 1958. The cemetery's central feature is a monument to the 543 victims of Nazism from the wider Příbram region, unveiled in 1954 — a memorial to local Jews who perished during the Second World War.

What hardships has the cemetery endured?

The cemetery has repeatedly suffered from vandalism and ethnic tensions. As early as 1881, only a few years after its founding, the mortuary was demolished, the boundary wall damaged, and the gate lock torn off, driven by nationalist disputes over the fact that the Jewish community kept German-language institutions running in the town. Far more severe damage came in the spring of 1992, when a group of young people toppled roughly two-thirds of the gravestones, smashing some of them. Thanks to financial support from the municipal authority, restoration took place between 1992 and 1995: the gravestones were re-erected and the entire cemetery wall was rebuilt.

Is it worth visiting?

The Jewish cemetery in Příbram is a place of quiet reflection, tying together the story of a medieval Jewish community with the tragedy of the 20th century. Visitors can see carefully restored gravestones alongside the Holocaust memorial, and the cemetery's location on the road to Prague makes it easy to combine a visit with exploring Příbram itself, a town best known for its mining history and the nearby pilgrimage site of Svatá Hora.

Frequently asked questions

When was the Jewish cemetery in Příbram established? The cemetery was founded in 1879, after the Jewish community resettled in the town in the mid-19th century.

How many gravestones have survived? Around 150 gravestones remain on the site today.

What does the monument at the cemetery commemorate? The monument, unveiled in 1954, commemorates 543 victims of Nazism from the Příbram region.

Has the cemetery ever been damaged? Yes, significant damage occurred in 1881 and again in 1992, when two-thirds of the gravestones were toppled; the cemetery was restored between 1992 and 1995.