Jewish cemetery in Třebívlice

The Jewish cemetery in Třebívlice is a small, secluded burial ground tucked among vineyards in northern Bohemia, a quiet remnant of a once-active Jewish community in the Litoměřice region. Though largely inaccessible today, it remains a point of interest for those researching Jewish heritage in the Czech countryside.

How did a Jewish community form in Třebívlice?

Jewish families began settling in the area gradually from the first half of the 19th century, encouraged by the tolerant attitude of the estate's owner at the time. As the number of Jewish residents grew, the community organized itself formally around 1857, establishing its own religious congregation. Three years later, in 1860, a synagogue was built, becoming the focal point of religious life. The natural next step for a growing congregation was securing its own burial ground.

When was the cemetery established?

The cemetery was founded in 1867, seven years after the synagogue was completed. Burials continued here for several decades, lasting until the 1930s, when the local Jewish community gradually shrank in size, mirroring broader demographic and migratory shifts affecting small Jewish congregations across Central Europe during that period.

What does the cemetery look like today?

The burial ground covers an area of 665 square meters and lies roughly 1.2 kilometers northeast of the village, within a small grove surrounded by vineyards owned by a private company. About a hundred gravestones survive, many of them damaged or toppled. The site suffered destruction on two separate occasions: during the Second World War, when Jewish cemeteries across occupied Europe were routinely vandalized, and again in the following decades under the communist regime, when many religious sites were left without care or maintenance.

Has the cemetery been restored?

Yes. In 2004, the Jewish Community of Prague began cleanup and conservation work at the site. As part of these efforts, the surrounding wall was repaired and a new entrance gate was constructed. Further restoration followed in 2008 and 2009, when fallen tombstones were lifted and re-erected. Thanks to this work, the cemetery, while still isolated, is now maintained on a regular basis.

Can visitors access the cemetery?

Because it sits in the middle of privately owned vineyards, the cemetery is practically inaccessible to casual visitors. There is no marked path leading to it, and the surrounding land belongs to a wine-growing enterprise. Despite this, the site is documented by local historians and heritage researchers, and it appears in Czech registers of Jewish religious monuments.

Frequently asked questions

When was the Jewish cemetery in Třebívlice founded? In 1867, seven years after the local synagogue was built.

How many gravestones remain at the cemetery? Around one hundred headstones survive, though many are damaged.

Is the cemetery open to the public? No — it lies within private vineyards with no marked access route, making it practically inaccessible to visitors.

Who carried out the restoration of the cemetery? The Jewish Community of Prague led conservation work starting in 2004, with further repairs in 2008 and 2009.

Until when were burials conducted here? Until the 1930s, as the local Jewish community gradually declined in size.