Křtěnov cemetery

Křtěnov cemetery is a small, quiet burial ground beside the Church of Saint Prokop — the only surviving fragment of the former village of Křtěnov in South Bohemia, part of the Temelín municipality. It's a place where local history collides with modern infrastructure, since almost nothing else of the original settlement remains.

Where is Křtěnov and what is it today?

The cemetery sits roughly 2.5 km east of Temelín, in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. The area still officially carries the name Křtěnov and belongs to the Temelín municipality, but no one lives here permanently anymore — as of 2021, only a single house was registered in the cadastral territory, which covers 2.29 km². In practice, the site today amounts to a handful of buildings clustered around the church.

Why did the village disappear?

Křtěnov's history runs deep: the first written mention of the settlement dates back to 1261, and the surrounding land was inhabited as far back as the Bronze Age, evidenced by burial mounds discovered in the area. For centuries it functioned as an ordinary rural village — in 1880 it had 266 residents, and by 1980 that number had fallen to 150. The end came with the construction of the Temelín Nuclear Power Plant: in 1985, Křtěnov was evacuated and demolished to clear the way for one of the country's largest energy projects.

What survived the demolition?

The only element of the old village to survive the clearance is the parish Church of Saint Prokop, together with its adjoining cemetery. The church still functions as a working parish church. Standing near it today are three buildings — one serves as a rectory, another is used by the Czech Police, and the third functions as storage. That's essentially all that remains of a settlement that had residents for more than seven centuries.

What can you see at the cemetery?

Small as it is, the cemetery carries a distinctly commemorative character. It holds monuments dedicated to residents of Březí u Týna nad Vltavou and Podhájí who died in the First World War — a reminder that Křtěnov once served as a shared point of reference for several surrounding communities, not just itself. There is also a symbolic cross commemorating the victims of the Chernobyl disaster, which adds an unusual layer to the site: a single cemetery holding memory of a local tragedy from over a century ago alongside memory of an event that affected the whole of Europe.

Why is it worth a visit?

Křtěnov isn't a typical stop on a tourist itinerary — it's a place for travelers looking for something beyond guidebook landmarks. Walking through the cemetery and around the Church of Saint Prokop offers a rare chance to touch the history of a village that was literally erased from the map to make way for modern energy infrastructure. Its proximity to the Temelín Nuclear Power Plant, one of the largest facilities of its kind in the Czech Republic, creates an unusual contrast: a symbol of the past standing quite literally next to a symbol of contemporary technology.

Frequently asked questions

Does anyone still live in Křtěnov? No, the area is essentially uninhabited — as of 2021, only a single house was registered there.

Why did the village of Křtěnov stop existing? It was evacuated and demolished in 1985 due to the construction of the Temelín Nuclear Power Plant.

What remains of the original village? The parish Church of Saint Prokop with its cemetery, plus three utility buildings nearby.

What can be found at the cemetery? Monuments to First World War victims from Březí u Týna nad Vltavou and Podhájí, and a symbolic cross commemorating the victims of the Chernobyl disaster.