Jewish cemetery in Rabí

The Jewish cemetery in Rabí is a small, quiet burial ground in southern Bohemia, tucked right against the walls of one of the largest castle ruins in the Czech Republic. It's a modest site, but for anyone interested in the Jewish history of the Prácheň region, it's one of the more evocative stops in the area.

Where is the cemetery and how do you get there?

Rabí is a small village in the Klatovy district of South Bohemia, on the Otava river, roughly eight kilometres from Sušice. The village is best known for the ruins of Rabí Castle, the most extensive surviving castle ruin in the Czech Republic, perched on a rocky spur above the river valley. The Jewish cemetery lies southwest of the main square, and its stone wall directly adjoins the castle's outer defensive wall — a striking pairing that puts centuries-old gravestones in the literal shadow of medieval fortifications.

What is the history of the Jewish community in Rabí?

Jews began settling in Rabí toward the end of the 15th century. The local community held real regional weight: around the turn of the 15th and 16th centuries, the rabbi of Rabí also served as chief rabbi for the entire Prácheň region, the historical district in which the village lies. The community persisted for several centuries but gradually dwindled, and the last Jewish families left Rabí in 1900. The cemetery itself was established even earlier, before 1724, and served the local community into the early 20th century — the last burial recorded there took place in 1911.

What can you see at the cemetery today?

The burial ground is small, enclosed by a low stone wall, but well preserved: more than a hundred gravestones still stand, most carved from local white limestone. The oldest legible stones date to the 18th century. Among them, the richly decorated tombstone of Jicchak Solomon, dated 1728, stands out as one of the finest examples of local funerary art. The cemetery is registered as a protected cultural monument of the Czech Republic, which safeguards it from further deterioration.

What legend is connected to the cemetery?

A local legend surrounds the 1732 tombstone of Benjamin, son of Jicchak Segal, located in the upper part of the cemetery near the wall. According to tradition, anyone who places a small pebble on the grave with a selfless wish, free of any personal gain, will see that wish come true. It's the grave most often pointed out to visitors walking through the site.

Frequently asked questions

Can the cemetery be visited together with Rabí Castle? Yes — since the cemetery wall directly borders the castle's outer wall, the two sites naturally fit into a single visit.

How many gravestones have survived? Around 120 gravestones remain, mostly carved from white limestone, with the oldest legible stones dating from the 18th century.

Since when did a Jewish community exist in Rabí? Jews settled in Rabí from the end of the 15th century, and the last families moved away in 1900.

Is the cemetery still in use? No — the last burial took place in 1911. Today it stands as a historical site protected as a cultural monument.