Kamenný hřbitovní most in Aš

Kamenný hřbitovní most (the Stone Cemetery Bridge) is a small stone bridge in Aš, in the Karlovy Vary region, standing right next to the town hall. It is the oldest surviving structure in the town — built in 1724 — and it still serves as the only pedestrian crossing linking two parts of a former cemetery ground.

Where does the bridge's name come from?

The name refers directly to its original purpose. The bridge was built to connect the old and new Protestant cemeteries in Aš — two separated sections of the burial ground that needed a crossing for mourners and funeral processions. It served this function without interruption for more than two centuries, until the 1970s, when the cemetery was closed and its grounds were converted into tennis courts. The bridge survived that transformation and remained part of the townscape as a physical trace of the area's earlier layout, even though everything around it changed completely.

How was the bridge built, and from what material?

The structure was raised from quarried slate stone, a material typical of local 18th-century building practice in the region. The bridge has a Baroque arched form characteristic of its era. Its dimensions are modest: it stands 6.5 meters high up to the top of the parapet railing, measures 9.5 meters in length, and is 4.6 meters wide overall, with the actual walkway itself being 3.5 meters across. These proportions are typical of a utilitarian, pedestrian-scale crossing rather than a bridge built for wider vehicular traffic.

Why is the bridge legally protected?

In 1987, the Kamenný hřbitovní most was listed as a protected cultural monument. That designation confirms the structure's historical value — not only as an example of Baroque bridge-building, but also as a tangible remnant of the former Protestant cemetery, the rest of which (headstones, pathways) disappeared long ago beneath newer recreational development.

What is happening to the bridge today?

The bridge is currently undergoing restoration work as part of a broader revitalization project known as "Park Historie" (History Park). The project covers not just the renovation of the bridge structure itself, but also the creation of memorial sites nearby dedicated to the history of the town cemetery and to Aš's Protestant heritage. As a result, a structure that for decades functioned almost unnoticed as a simple pedestrian shortcut in the town center now has a chance to regain its historical significance and become an educational point of interest for both residents and visitors.

Frequently asked questions

How old is the Kamenný hřbitovní most? The bridge dates from 1724 and is the oldest surviving building in Aš — making it more than 300 years old.

What was the bridge originally used for? It connected the old and new Protestant cemeteries in Aš, allowing passage between the two parts of the burial ground. It served this role until the 1970s.

Is the bridge a protected monument? Yes, it has been listed as a protected cultural monument since 1987.

What material was the bridge built from? Quarried slate stone, shaped into a Baroque arch typical of 18th-century construction in the region.

Where exactly is the bridge located? In the center of Aš, right next to the town hall.