Jewish Cemetery in Rabštejn nad Střelou

The Jewish cemetery in Rabštejn nad Střelou is a small, secluded burial ground set into a hillside above the Střela river, in one of Central Europe's smallest towns. It stands as evidence of a tiny Jewish community that settled here in the mid-17th century and never grew beyond a handful of families.

Where did the Jewish community in Rabštejn come from?

The first Jewish families arrived in Rabštejn nad Střelou around 1654, with historical accounts pointing to three families as the founding settlers. The community remained modest throughout its existence: as late as the 19th century only two families still lived in the town, and the total Jewish population of Rabštejn is believed to have never exceeded around fifteen people at any one time. Despite its small size, the community maintained its own cemetery, in keeping with Jewish religious tradition, which requires burial in dedicated, consecrated ground regardless of a community's size.

Where is the cemetery located and what does it look like?

The cemetery sits on a steep slope along the path leading from the former post office down toward the Střela river. A gravel trail descends fairly sharply, and only behind a stone wall do the first gravestones of this small burial ground come into view. The site is divided into two sections: a newer, lower part, and an older upper section, raised above the rest and reached by a short flight of steps. This layout gives the cemetery a secluded, quiet character, almost hidden from casual view — visitors need to deliberately walk down the hillside to find it.

Why do the gravestones look the way they do?

A defining feature of the cemetery is the deliberate absence of restoration work. Following Jewish tradition, the matzevot (gravestones) are left exactly as time shapes them: if a stone tilts, it stays tilted; if it sinks into the ground, it remains sunken; and if it disappears entirely, no one replaces or reconstructs it. There is no costly, ongoing grave maintenance here, which gives the site an unusually raw and authentic atmosphere — moss-covered stones, gentle tilts, and slabs gradually merging with the surrounding landscape.

What should visitors know before coming here?

The Jewish cemetery makes for an interesting addition to a visit to Rabštejn nad Střelou itself, known as one of the smallest towns in Central Europe. Reaching the cemetery requires walking down a steep path, which can be challenging for visitors with limited mobility. Given its intimate scale and the modest number of surviving gravestones, a visit typically takes no more than fifteen to twenty-five minutes. The site will appeal above all to those interested in the history of Jewish communities in the Czech lands and in lesser-known, authentic heritage sites away from the main tourist routes.

Frequently asked questions

When was the Jewish cemetery in Rabštejn nad Střelou founded? Most likely in 1654, coinciding with the arrival of the first Jewish families in the town.

How many people are buried here? The exact number is unknown, but the Jewish community in Rabštejn never numbered more than about fifteen people at any given time.

Are the gravestones maintained or restored? No — in line with Jewish tradition, the cemetery is left in its natural state, with no intervention on tilted or sinking matzevot.

How do you get to the cemetery? A path leads from the former post office in Rabštejn downhill toward the Střela river; the descent is steep, so sturdy footwear is recommended.