New cemetery in Třebíč

The New Cemetery in Třebíč (Nový hřbitov) is a municipal cemetery that has served the town since 1977. It sits in the Týn district on the eastern edge of Třebíč, and it is best known for hosting the first Muslim burial ground opened in Czechoslovakia after 1989.

Where is the cemetery and how do you get there?

The cemetery is located at Táborská 103/39, in the Týn district — on the opposite side of town from the historic centre and the UNESCO-listed Jewish Quarter with its old Jewish cemetery. It is easily reached on foot or by car from the town centre, and it is administered by the town of Třebíč through a contracted management company.

Why was a new cemetery built?

Until the 1970s, burials in Třebíč took place mainly at the town's Old Cemetery. As space there ran out, the municipal authorities decided to open a larger, new communal cemetery in the Týn district. It opened in 1977 and has served as the town's main burial site ever since. The grounds include a funeral ceremonial hall and a scattering meadow for the dispersal of cremated remains.

What makes this cemetery stand out?

The most distinctive feature of the New Cemetery is its separate Muslim section, opened on 19 April 1994 at the initiative of Mohamed Ali Šilhavý. It was the first Muslim cemetery established in the Czech Republic after the fall of communism. Thirty burial plots were purchased initially, with funding from the Embassy of Saudi Arabia. By 2014, roughly 50 people had been buried there, showing that the site has long served not only the residents of Třebíč but also the wider Muslim community in the region.

What memorials can visitors find on site?

Several memorials have been added to the cemetery in recent years. In May 2020, a commemorative plaque honouring the painter Vlastimil Toman was unveiled inside the ceremonial hall. In October 2021, a further plaque was dedicated to Antonín Kalina, remembered as a wartime hero for his actions during the Second World War. A memorial bench dedicated to war veterans was also installed that same year. Since 2022, the cemetery has been managed by a new company appointed by the town, though this administrative change has not altered the site's function or character.

When can you visit?

Opening hours vary by season. From March to the end of April, and again from September to the end of October, the cemetery is open from 7:00 to 19:00. During the summer months of May through August, hours extend from 6:00 to 20:00, while from November to the end of February the cemetery closes earlier, at 18:00. Hours are sometimes extended around All Souls' Day. The cemetery's administrative office keeps limited hours on select weekdays, so it is worth checking in advance for anything related to burial plots or paperwork.

Frequently asked questions

When was the New Cemetery in Třebíč established? It opened in 1977, after the town's Old Cemetery ran out of space for further burials.

How is it different from the Old Cemetery and the Jewish cemetery in Třebíč? It is a separate municipal cemetery in the Týn district, unrelated to the historic Old Cemetery or to the UNESCO-listed Jewish cemetery, both of which lie in a different part of town and have entirely different histories.

What is unique about this cemetery? It contains a Muslim burial section, opened in 1994 as the first of its kind in the Czech Republic after 1989, established at the initiative of Mohamed Ali Šilhavý with support from the Embassy of Saudi Arabia.

Are there any memorial plaques on the grounds? Yes — in recent years plaques have been added honouring the painter Vlastimil Toman (2020) and wartime hero Antonín Kalina (2021), along with a memorial bench for war veterans.

What are the opening hours? They depend on the season: the cemetery stays open latest, until 20:00, from May to August, and closes earliest, at 18:00, from November to February.