New Jewish cemetery in Sušice

The New Jewish Cemetery in Sušice is a small, quiet burial ground at the northern end of Křičkova Street, established in 1876 as the successor to the town's older Jewish cemetery, which had served the community since around 1626. Today the site is protected as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic and remains the property of the Federation of Jewish Communities in the Czech Republic.

Why was a new cemetery needed?

The older Jewish cemetery in Sušice had gradually run out of space over more than two centuries of use. The last burial there took place in 1875, and the following year the local Jewish community began using the newly established grounds on Křičkova Street instead. From 1876 onward, this became the resting place for Jewish residents of Sušice and the surrounding area, and it remained in use through the middle of the 20th century.

What survives on site today?

More than 110 tombstones have been preserved, dating from the cemetery's founding in 1876 through to 1946. Most of the matzevot are modest in form, and together they document the final decades of Jewish community life in the town, including the devastating impact of the Second World War, after which the number of burials dropped sharply. The style and layout of the surviving stones offer a record of how burial customs among the local Jewish population evolved across seven decades.

A particularly significant addition to the site is a memorial to the victims of Nazism, erected in 2000. It commemorates members of the Sušice Jewish community who perished during the Holocaust — for many of them, this monument is the only place of remembrance, since they have no individual graves.

How did the cemetery survive?

The site's history has not been without threats. In 1985, expanding construction in the town put the cemetery at risk of demolition. It ultimately escaped destruction and has survived to the present day as a testament to the Jewish presence in the Šumava region.

Why visit?

The New Jewish Cemetery in Sušice is a worthwhile stop for anyone interested in the history of local Jewish communities in the Czech Republic and the material heritage of Judaism in the Šumava region. Unlike the large, tourist-heavy Jewish cemeteries found in major cities, this one has retained an intimate, authentic character — no crowds, just modest tombstones telling the story of one small congregation. It pairs well with a visit to the older Jewish cemetery in Sušice and the town's former Jewish quarter.

Frequently asked questions

When was the New Jewish Cemetery in Sušice established? It was founded in 1876, a year after burials ceased at the town's older Jewish cemetery.

How many tombstones have survived? Over 110 tombstones remain, dating from 1876 to 1946.

Is the cemetery legally protected? Yes, it is listed as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic.

Who owns the cemetery? The site belongs to the Federation of Jewish Communities in the Czech Republic.

Is there a Holocaust memorial on site? Yes, a memorial to the Jewish victims of Nazism connected to Sušice was erected there in 2000.