Old Cemetery in Havlíčkův Brod

Old Cemetery in Havlíčkův Brod is a former municipal burial ground on Ledečská street, right in the town centre, next to the Sázava river and beside the Church of St. Vojtěch (St. Adalbert). Also known locally as the cemetery by St. Vojtěch's church, it is one of the oldest surviving burial sites in the Vysočina region and today functions as a memorial park with an educational trail.

Where did this cemetery come from?

The site's origins go back to the former town of Německý Brod, where the first cemetery was laid out around the Church of St. Vojtěch at the end of the 13th century. This placement was typical of medieval towns, where burial grounds were established directly next to parish churches at the heart of the settlement, which had grown up around a ford crossing on the Sázava. In the 16th century the grounds underwent a Renaissance rebuilding, giving the site a more representative appearance in line with the architectural fashion of the period.

Why did it become the town's main cemetery?

The cemetery saw its heaviest use during the epidemics of the 17th and 18th centuries, when death tolls rose sharply and burials around St. Vojtěch's church became the primary option for residents of the town and surrounding area. A turning point came with Emperor Joseph II, who in 1784 banned burials within built-up town areas for sanitary reasons. As a result, after 1783 the cemetery by St. Vojtěch's church was formally established as the main municipal cemetery of Havlíčkův Brod, taking over from the smaller, scattered burial grounds that had previously existed around churches in the town centre.

How long was it in use, and what happened afterwards?

Burials continued here until 1961, meaning the cemetery witnessed nearly seven centuries of the town's history — from medieval Německý Brod, through the Josephine reforms, and into postwar Czechoslovakia. Once burials ceased, the site was not left to fall into obscurity. On All Souls' Day, the old cemetery at St. Vojtěch's church was converted into an educational trail, allowing visitors to learn about the site's history, its layout, and the people buried there.

What can visitors see today?

Walking through the former cemetery grounds, visitors can trace the layered history of the town — from its medieval beginnings by St. Vojtěch's church, through Baroque and Josephine-era changes, to its present role as an educational site. Its central location on Ledečská street and proximity to the Sázava river make it easy to combine a visit with a walk through the historic centre of Havlíčkův Brod. Information panels along the trail explain how burial customs in the Czech lands changed over the centuries — from churchyard burials, through Joseph II's sanitary reforms, to today's approach to cemetery heritage as part of a town's identity.

Frequently asked questions

Are burials still held at the Old Cemetery? No, the last burials took place in 1961. The site now serves a historical and educational purpose.

Why was the cemetery built next to St. Vojtěch's church? This layout was standard for medieval towns, where cemeteries were established directly beside parish churches — a pattern already present in the site's founding at the end of the 13th century.

What changed after 1784? Emperor Joseph II banned burials within built-up urban areas on sanitary grounds, which cemented this cemetery's role as the town's main burial ground after 1783.

Can the site be visited today? Yes, the former cemetery has been turned into an educational trail open to visitors interested in the history of Havlíčkův Brod.