Jewish cemetery in Žamberk

The Jewish cemetery in Žamberk is one of the notable Jewish heritage sites in eastern Bohemia, located on the outskirts of this town in the Pardubice Region of the Czech Republic.

When was the cemetery founded?

The burial ground was established toward the end of the 17th century. Jewish settlement in Žamberk and the surrounding villages had been developing since the early 1600s, but for a long time the community had no dedicated place to bury its dead. Once a cemetery became necessary, a plot on the edge of the town was chosen — far enough from the built-up area to satisfy religious requirements, yet still reachable for the local community.

How did the cemetery grow over time?

The grounds were expanded on several occasions as the number of burials increased. Enlargements took place in 1753, 1806, during the second half of the 19th century, and again in 1920 and 1931–1932. Through these successive additions the cemetery reached its current size of 2,176 square meters. This long expansion history reflects a Jewish community that kept growing steadily for more than two centuries and repeatedly needed more space.

What can visitors see on the gravestones?

The oldest surviving tombstones date back to 1731. The cemetery is clearly divided into two sections based on the style of the markers. The older part contains stones with raised, relief-carved Hebrew inscriptions and rich sepulchral symbolism — plant and animal motifs along with religious symbols typical of the stonemasonry craft of the period. The newer section holds gravestones from the second half of the 19th century, with simpler, more classical forms characteristic of that later era. In total, around 230 tombstones from between 1731 and 1941 have survived to this day.

What happened to the cemetery during the war years?

The local Jewish community continued using the cemetery until 1941, when it was closed and the Jews of Žamberk were deported to concentration camps — for many families this marked the end of a centuries-long Jewish presence in the town. During the Second World War the cemetery was damaged by the occupying forces, and for decades afterward it remained neglected and in poor condition, overgrown and largely forgotten.

Has the cemetery been restored?

Yes. Only in the 1990s was the site properly reconstructed, with the grounds cleared and the surviving tombstones secured and preserved. Since then, the cemetery has been open to visitors as a testimony to the region's Jewish history and forms part of local routes dedicated to the memory of the Jewish communities of eastern Bohemia.

Frequently asked questions

How many tombstones survive at the cemetery? Around 230 gravestones dating from 1731 to 1941.

How large is the cemetery today? Its current area is 2,176 square meters.

When did the cemetery stop being used? In 1941, following the deportation of Žamberk's Jewish population to concentration camps.

Can the cemetery be visited? Yes, after its restoration in the 1990s it is open to visitors as a Jewish heritage site of the region.