Turnov cemetery

Mariánský hřbitov (Marian Cemetery) is the main municipal cemetery of Turnov, sitting right in the town centre next to the neo-Gothic Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary. It is the largest and oldest of the town's seven cemeteries and doubles as a quiet walk-through history of Turnov's most notable residents.

Where did this place come from?

The site's roots go back to the mid-13th century, when a wooden chapel and later a monastery stood here. A parish cemetery gradually grew up around this small sanctuary and became the town's principal burial ground over time. The adjoining church itself was rebuilt several times over the centuries, receiving its current neo-Gothic form during renovations carried out between 1825 and 1853. Work began to a design by the Viennese architect Martin Hausknecht and was later completed by Karl Schramm and Bernard Grueber — names that tie the Turnov cemetery to the wider tradition of 19th-century Central European church architecture.

Who is buried here?

From the outset, Mariánský hřbitov served as the town's main burial ground and was expanded several times as Turnov grew. Many figures significant to the region's history rest within its grounds. At the entrance, visitors will find an orientation plan listing notable personalities along with a schematic layout of the graves, while numbered markers on individual plots make it possible to locate a specific grave. A walk through the cemetery can therefore double as a short lesson in local history.

Is it only a Catholic burial ground?

It's worth noting that Mariánský hřbitov was never the resting place for the whole of Turnov's population. The town's Jewish community was buried separately, in its own Jewish cemetery established as far back as the 17th century and run independently of the burial ground by the Church of the Virgin Mary. This separation reflects the town's historical religious makeup, in which the Jewish community maintained its own dedicated cemetery for centuries.

What can visitors see today?

In the second half of the 20th century, a building housing the town's funeral service headquarters was constructed in the southern part of the cemetery, a reminder that the site has continuously served its original purpose right up to the present day. The cemetery is open for walking through, so it fits naturally into a stroll through central Turnov, pairing a look at the historic church with a short visit among the older gravestones.

How to visit?

Since this is an active cemetery attached to a historic church, visitors should keep the quiet, respectful pace typical of a working burial ground. The information plan at the entrance makes it easy to plan a route toward the graves of specific figures connected to the town's history, so even a brief stop offers a real glimpse into Turnov's past. The site combines naturally with a visit to the town centre and to the neo-Gothic Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, whose tower dominates the cemetery grounds.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Turnov's main cemetery located? Mariánský hřbitov sits in the town centre, directly beside the neo-Gothic Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary.

How old is this burial site? It grew out of a wooden chapel and monastery dating to the mid-13th century; the church's current neo-Gothic appearance comes from a rebuilding carried out between 1825 and 1853.

Was Turnov's Jewish community also buried here? No — the local Jewish community had its own separate cemetery in town, which operated independently of Mariánský hřbitov.

Can the cemetery be visited freely? Yes, it is open for walking through, and an orientation plan at the entrance shows where the graves of notable figures are located.