Jewish Cemetery in Terešov

The Jewish cemetery in Terešov is one of the oldest and best-preserved Jewish burial grounds in western Bohemia, located roughly 1.5 km southwest of the village, along a small paved road leading toward the hamlet of Bílá Skála. The site sits in a small wooded patch, set apart from the surrounding settlements in a quiet, forested spot.

Where did the cemetery come from?

Local tradition traces the cemetery's origins to a plague epidemic around 1520, when Jews fleeing the disease were turned away from the village out of fear of contagion and were buried on this spot instead. A burial brotherhood is said to have formed around this event, giving rise to the first Jewish religious community in the Rokycany district. Historical research, however, suggests that regular use of the cemetery most likely began in the 17th century, at the latest by the early 18th century — a burial brotherhood (chevra) is documented as active as early as 1623.

How did the cemetery change over the centuries?

As the local Jewish community grew, the cemetery was expanded accordingly. Around 1768 the grounds were enlarged and enclosed with a stone wall, marking out and protecting the burial site. In 1816 a gravedigger's house was built next to the cemetery, indicating that the site operated as a fully organized burial ground with a dedicated caretaker.

How many gravestones have survived?

Around 260 gravestones (matzevot) remain on site today. The oldest identified stone dates to 1710, and the most recent to 1937 — evidence that the cemetery served the local Jewish community for more than two centuries. It is worth noting the cemetery may have been in use even earlier, though any older stones have either not survived or have not been conclusively identified.

What happened to Terešov's Jewish community?

Terešov was a center of Jewish life from at least the late 17th century, when both a synagogue and a burial ground were established here. The size of the community, however, shrank dramatically over time: 187 Jews lived in Terešov in 1848, only 2 remained by 1921, and by 1930 the Jewish community had effectively disappeared. Both the synagogue and the cemetery continued to see occasional use right up until shortly before the Second World War.

Why is this site worth visiting?

The cemetery in Terešov stands as a record of a long, now-vanished Jewish history in the Rokycany region. The surviving gravestones, together with remaining infrastructure such as the perimeter wall and the gravedigger's house, help reconstruct the picture of a once-active religious community. Its secluded, wooded setting gives the place a calm, contemplative atmosphere, appreciated both by those interested in Czech Jewish history and by visitors drawn to quiet, lesser-known corners of the region.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where exactly is the cemetery located? About 1.5 km southwest of Terešov, along the road to Bílá Skála, within a small forested area.

When was the cemetery established? Most likely in the 17th century, at the latest by the early 18th century; local legend links its origin to a plague epidemic around 1520.

How many gravestones remain today? Around 260, with the oldest dating from 1710 and the most recent from 1937.

Does a Jewish community still exist in Terešov? No — the Jewish population fell from 187 in 1848 to virtually none already in the interwar period.