Old Jewish cemetery in Náchod

The Old Jewish Cemetery in Náchod is a quiet park in the heart of town that holds more than four centuries of the local Jewish community's history. Although almost none of its gravestones survive today, the site remains one of the last physical reminders that Jews have lived in Náchod since the mid-14th century.

When was the cemetery established?

The earliest record of the site, described then as a "Jewish garden," dates back to the mid-16th century. Over time the plot grew into a proper burial ground, expanded twice — in 1630 and again in 1661 — as the local Jewish community grew and burial space ran short. At its largest the cemetery covered roughly 3,624 square meters and remained in continuous use until 1925, when a new Jewish cemetery was opened elsewhere in the city and took over further burials.

What stood on the cemetery grounds?

In 1661, alongside one of the expansions, a dedicated building was erected on the site. It served several purposes over the following centuries: first as the gravedigger's residence and a ceremonial hall for burial rites, and later, in the 18th century, as a Jewish hospital caring for the community during outbreaks of disease. The cemetery itself stood along what is now Českých bratří street, close to the town center.

What happened to the cemetery during World War II?

The site's wartime fate was harsh. In June 1943 the Nazi occupiers ordered the cemetery's complete devastation: gravestones were destroyed, sold off, or repurposed as building material, including for paving local roads. That same year the ceremonial building was converted into a blacksmith's workshop, and after the war it continued to serve as a workshop and storage facility for the municipal services company. Almost every visible trace of the original burials disappeared.

What does the site look like today?

In 1958 the former cemetery grounds were turned into a public park, which still serves residents as a green space today. Only in recent decades have efforts begun to restore the memory of the site's original purpose. A local civic association renovated the park in 2013, and in 2014 the city installed a memorial plaque honoring the Jewish residents of Náchod whose graves were desecrated by the Nazis during the war.

Frequently asked questions

Are any gravestones still standing at the cemetery? No, most of the original gravestones were destroyed or removed by the Nazis in 1943. The site today functions mainly as a park, with a 2014 memorial plaque serving as the main reminder of its history.

Why did the cemetery stop being used in 1925? That year a new Jewish cemetery opened in Náchod, taking over burials for the local community and relieving pressure on the older, smaller site.

What can visitors see there today? Visitors will find a peaceful park in the town center along with a memorial plaque commemorating Náchod's Jewish community and the cemetery's destruction during World War II.