Protestant cemetery in Polička

The Protestant Cemetery in Polička is a small, quiet burial ground in the Dolní Předměstí district, just off E. Beranová street, bordering the Catholic Cemetery of St. Michael to its north. Covering only 535 square meters, it is modest in size, yet its history reflects a period when Protestants across the Habsburg monarchy still had to fight for the right to their own burial grounds.

Why did Protestants need a separate cemetery?

For a long time, canon law in Catholic lands forbade the burial of non-Catholics in consecrated parish cemeteries. This affected both Lutherans (Augsburg Confession) and Calvinists (Helvetic and Reformed Confession) alike. In practice, this meant Protestant communities had to establish their own, separate burial sites, frequently located outside town walls and away from Catholic cemeteries.

Before a local cemetery existed in Polička, Protestant residents of the town buried their dead at the Protestant cemetery in nearby Kamenec. This arrangement lasted until the late 19th century, when the situation finally changed.

When and how was the Polička cemetery founded?

The land for the cemetery was purchased in 1878 by Josef Novotný, a merchant from Polička, from the seller Eduard Čížek. Establishing the burial ground cost 1,052 guilders — a considerable sum for the time, reflecting the determination of the local Protestant community to secure a proper, dignified resting place of its own.

The cemetery was consecrated and put into use on September 28, 1878. The consecration ceremony was performed by the priest Josef Martínek from the nearby village of Telecí — a detail that itself illustrates how sparse and scattered the network of Protestant parishes was in the Czech countryside at that time, since a clergyman had to travel in from a neighboring settlement.

Who maintains the cemetery today?

The cemetery is currently owned by the town of Polička. Though small, it stands as a testament to the region's religious diversity and to the Protestant community's long struggle against the restrictions imposed by the religious laws of the former monarchy.

What should visitors know about the surroundings?

The Protestant cemetery sits directly next to the Catholic Cemetery of St. Michael, creating an interesting contrast — two separate burial grounds, born out of religious division, now lying side by side in the same part of town. For anyone interested in local history and sacred architecture, this is a worthwhile stop when exploring Polička, best known as the birthplace of composer Bohuslav Martinů.

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Protestant cemetery in Polička? It covers an area of 535 square meters, making it a very compact, intimate burial site.

When was the cemetery founded? The land was purchased in 1878, and the cemetery itself was consecrated on September 28, 1878.

Where were Polička's Protestants buried before this cemetery existed? They were buried at the Protestant cemetery in nearby Kamenec.

Who owns the cemetery today? The town of Polička owns it.

Where exactly is the cemetery located? In the Dolní Předměstí district, on E. Beranová street, directly bordering the Cemetery of St. Michael to its north.