New Jewish cemetery in Prostějov

The New Jewish Cemetery in Prostějov is the third Jewish burial ground established within the town, and one of the few remaining physical traces of what was once a large and influential Jewish community. The first burial took place here on 12 April 1908, and the cemetery was laid out directly next to the town's municipal cemetery, sharing two of its inner boundaries with it. A brick wall encloses the two outer sides of the grounds.

Where is the cemetery located?

The site lies behind Brněnská street, immediately adjoining the Prostějov municipal cemetery. Both burial grounds — municipal and Jewish — are today protected as cultural monuments; the Jewish cemetery received this protected status in 1958.

What did the original entrance look like?

The narrower, western side of the cemetery was originally closed off by an imposing Neo-Baroque gate featuring half-columns, a tympanum, and decorative vases on top. Its entablature carried a Hebrew inscription — a quotation from the Old Testament that translates as "I have put my spirit upon you, and you shall live." The upper, ornamented section of the brick gate was later dismantled, most likely after the end of World War II, leaving only the lower portion standing. A ceremonial hall stands along the main entrance axis, used historically for funeral rites before burial.

What happened to the cemetery during the war?

The original grounds covered 18,050 square meters. Only 6,195 square meters have survived to the present day — the rest of the area was destroyed in 1943, during the wartime occupation, when Jewish cemeteries across Nazi-controlled territory were routinely vandalized and their land confiscated. This loss permanently reshaped the cemetery, which today occupies only a fraction of its original footprint.

Is the cemetery being restored today?

Yes. A long-running conservation effort has been under way for years, supported by grants from the town of Prostějov. The goal of this work goes beyond preserving physical elements such as gravestones, the boundary wall, and the remnants of the gate and ceremonial hall — it also aims to restore the cemetery's place in local memory as part of the town's history and its "spiritual map." These efforts are part of a broader movement to document and safeguard the Jewish heritage of Prostějov, a town once nicknamed the "Haná Jerusalem" for the size and significance of its Jewish community.

Frequently asked questions

When was the New Jewish Cemetery in Prostějov established? The first burial took place on 12 April 1908, marking the founding of the cemetery.

Why is it called the "new" cemetery? Because it is the third Jewish cemetery to have existed in Prostějov — earlier burial grounds used by the Jewish community were located elsewhere in town before this later site was established.

Has the original entrance gate survived? Only partially. The lower, brick portion of the Neo-Baroque gate remains, but its upper, decorated section with the tympanum and vases was removed, likely after World War II.

How large is the cemetery today compared to its original size? The current area is 6,195 square meters, little more than a third of the original 18,050 square meters — the remainder was lost to destruction in 1943.

Can visitors see the cemetery? The site sits next to the municipal cemetery behind Brněnská street and is protected as a cultural monument; ongoing restoration work aims to make its history more accessible to visitors.