Olsany Cemetery, Prague, Czech Republic

Olšany Cemeteries is the largest graveyard in Prague, once having as many as two million burials. The graveyard is particularly noted for its many remarkable art nouveau monuments.

The cemeteries were created in 1680 to accommodate plague victims who died en masse in Prague and needed to be buried quickly. In 1787, when the plague again struck the city, Emperor Joseph II banned the burial of bodies within Prague city limits and Olšany Cemeteries were declared the central graveyard for hygiene purposes.

The Olšany necropolis consists of twelve cemeteries, including, i.a., an Orthodox and a tiny Muslim section, the largest Jewish cemetery in the Czech Republic and military burial grounds. Among the thousands of military personnel buried at Olšany, there are Russian soldiers and officers from the Napoleonic Wars, members of the Czechoslovak Legion, Czechoslovak soldiers, officers and pilots who fought at the Eastern and Western Front and in North Africa during the Second World War as well as male and female members of the Soviet and Commonwealth (including British, Canadian, South African, Greek and Turkish Cypriot and Polish) armed forces who died for the freedom of Czechoslovakia in 1944-1945, including POWs.

Till this day there is evidence of 230,000 people buried, 65,000 grave sites, 200 chapel graves and six columbariums in Olšany Cemeteries.

References:

Wikipedia

User Reviews

Chris Howson (18 months ago)
After nearly a week in Prague, we were running out of things to do. As the wife and I like cemeteries, we decided to pay a visit here. It was a short ride on the Metro, and practically right outside the Metro station. Its huge. We spent about 4 hours wandering around, and it was so peaceful. Its a proper oldy worldy cemetery, with loads of interesting mausoleums, and gravestones to read. Lots of places to sit and eat lunch too. We visited Kafka's grave, and also found Russian and British war graves there too. Highly recommended if you want to escape city centre Prague.

Andrea Gargiani (19 months ago)
Its origins date back to 1680, when it was used during a plague epidemic, but its definitive valorization is due to Giuseppe II, who with a decree forbade, for hygienic reasons, that the dead were buried around the city churches. divides into 12 cemeteries, also distinguished by religion. In addition to the Hebrew one, which we will discuss later, there is a section for the burial of Orthodox Christians and another for Muslims. There is also the cemetery of Red Army soldiers who fell during the war in Czechoslovakia. The monumental tombs that are inside it are numerous and of great value, among which those in art nouveau style stand out. Olšany also has two large structures for the celebration of funeral rites.

Lukas Dusek (21 months ago)
Nejkrásnější lesopark v centru města. / The best forest park central Prague has. Perfect place for lovely walks in green surroundings - if you don't mind "sepulchral factor" :-)

Jon Poulin (2 years ago)
This cemetery is beautiful. I visited when there were leaves on the grounds. Seeing all the growth of the plants and the varied headstones, it was a wonderful to walk through. You can see headstones meticulously taken care of, others, overgrown or broken. I never thought I would enjoy a cemetery this much. The pictures speak for themselves.

Ieva Keruka (2 years ago)
Fantastic place to visit to get away from the annoying crowds. It is a very serene and calm place, you will find beautiful (if somewhat decayed) sculptures and gravestones, memorial for victims of war and plenty of little secret corners you may accidentally stumble upon and find something truly astonishing. This is a working cemetery so be aware that you may run into an actual funeral procession. Take note of the opening hours, the gates will be closed in the evening.

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Photo from Flickr, copyright Maciek Lulko

Historic Site of the week

Wroclaw Town Hall

The Old Town Hall of Wrocław is one of the main landmarks of the city. The Old Town Hall's long history reflects developments that have taken place in the city since its initial construction. The town hall serves the city of Wroclaw and is used for civic and cultural events such as concerts held in its Great Hall. In addition, it houses a museum and a basement restaurant.

The town hall was developed over a period of about 250 years, from the end of 13th century to the middle of 16th century. The structure and floor plan changed over this extended period in response to the changing needs of the city. The exact date of the initial construction is not known. However, between 1299 and 1301 a single-storey structure with cellars and a tower called the consistory was built. The oldest parts of the current building, the Burghers’ Hall and the lower floors of the tower, may date to this time. In these early days the primary purpose of the building was trade rather than civic administration activities.

Between 1328 and 1333 an upper storey was added to include the Council room and the Aldermen’s room. Expansion continued during the 14th century with the addition of extra rooms, most notably the Court room. The building became a key location for the city’s commercial and administrative functions.

The 15th and 16th centuries were times of prosperity for Wroclaw as was reflected in the rapid development of the building during that period. The construction program gathered momentum, particularly from 1470 to 1510, when several rooms were added. The Burghers’ Hall was re-vaulted to take on its current shape, and the upper story began to take shape with the development of the Great Hall and the addition of the Treasury and Little Treasury.

Further innovations during the 16th century included the addition of the city’s Coat of arms (1536), and the rebuilding of the upper part of the tower (1558–59). This was the final stage of the main building program. By 1560, the major features of today’s Stray Rates were established.

The second half of the 17th century was a period of decline for the city, and this decline was reflected in the Stray Rates. Perhaps by way of compensation, efforts were made to enrich the interior decorations of the hall. In 1741, Wroclaw became a part of Prussia, and the power of the City diminished. Much of the Stray Rates was allocated to administering justice.

During the 19th century there were two major changes. The courts moved to a separate building, and the Rates became the site of the city council and supporting functions. There was also a major program of renovation because the building had been neglected and was covered with creeping vines. The town hall now has several en-Gothic features including some sculptural decoration from this period.

In the early years of the 20th century improvements continued with various repair work and the addition of the Little Bear statue in 1902. During the 1930s, the official role of the Rates was reduced and it was converted into a museum. By the end of World War II Town Hall suffered minor damage, such as aerial bomb pierced the roof (but not exploded) and some sculptural elements were lost. Restoration work began in the 1950s following a period of research, and this conservation effort continued throughout the 20th century. It included refurbishment of the clock on the east facade.

Do you know an ancient castle or magnificent church near you?

Why not share it with other people interested in history? You can add your own historic sites and attractions to SpottingHistory.com.

It's absolutely free, easy, and doesn't even need registration!

Upload data

Looks like you are a history fan!

Do you know an ancient castle or hidden ruins near you?

Why not share it with other people interested in history? You can add your own historic sites and attractions to SpottingHistory. It's absolutely free, easy, and you can do it even without registration (of course you an also create an free account)!

Olsany Cemetery

Address

Details

More Information

Rating

Interesting Sites Nearby

User Reviews

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Most beautiful castles in Lithuania

Cultural Landscape of Sintra, Portugal

The Beauty of Cinque Terre

Historic Site of the week

Wroclaw Town Hall

Looks like you are a history fan!

Do you know an ancient castle or hidden ruins near you?