Jewish cemetery in Strážov

The Jewish cemetery in Strážov is one of the oldest and best-preserved sites of its kind in Bohemia, tucked away on the slope of Smrkový Hill roughly 25 minutes on foot east of the town. For centuries it served the local Jewish community, and today it stands as a rare surviving testament to a heritage that has largely vanished from this part of the Czech Republic.

How did the cemetery come to be?

The land was granted to the Jews of Strážov by the Opalecký noble family, who at the time owned the surrounding forests, including Smrkový Hill itself. In exchange, the Jewish community was required to pay a fee for every new grave established there. Some sources suggest the cemetery could be as much as 600 years old, though its exact founding date remains unknown, making it one of the oldest Jewish burial grounds in the historic Bohemian lands.

Who was buried here?

The cemetery was never used exclusively by residents of Strážov itself. It also served Jewish families from nearby Běšiny and Čachrov, as well as more distant communities such as Radinov, Kunkovice, Neznašov, Všeruby, and even far-off Prášily. This wide catchment area shows how central the cemetery was for scattered Jewish communities across the region who lacked burial grounds of their own.

How many gravestones remain?

Roughly 250 tombstones have survived on the site. The last recorded burial took place in 1925, when Bedřich Stádler of Strážov was laid to rest there. The oldest surviving stones, dating to the 19th century, carry inscriptions in both Hebrew and German, while older, simpler markers bear Hebrew-only text that has largely become illegible with age.

What does the cemetery look like today?

The burial ground forms a rectangle measuring about 30 by 54 meters, enclosed by a stone wall. In 2006, the site underwent a major restoration funded by the Jewish Community, during which more than 200 tombstones were repaired, the surrounding wall was fixed, and the arched entrance gate was restored. Thanks to this work, the cemetery retains its historic character and remains open for visitors today.

Frequently asked questions

How far is the cemetery from the center of Strážov? It lies about a 25-minute walk east of town, along a path branching off the road to Lukavice, on the northern slope of Smrkový Hill.

How many gravestones can visitors see today? Around 250 tombstones have survived, more than 200 of which were restored during the 2006 renovation.

When did the last burial take place? The last known burial was in 1925, when Bedřich Stádler of Strážov was interred there.

Did the cemetery serve only the Jewish residents of Strážov? No — it also served Jewish communities from Běšiny, Čachrov, Radinov, Kunkovice, Neznašov, Všeruby, and even distant Prášily.

Who paid for the cemetery's restoration? The 2006 restoration was funded by the Jewish Community and included repairs to the walls, the gate, and the reconstruction of more than 200 tombstones.