- Address: Široká, 110 00 Staré Město, Czech Republic
- Tel: +420 222 749 211
- Website: jewishmuseum.cz
The Jewish cemetery in Prague contains many legends and secrets. This place attracts many tourists, even despite its gloominess. Someone just wants to check legends and rumors, someone is curious to see personally the history of the oldest district of Prague, which made the cemetery the most famous in Europe.
Jewish cemetery in Prague - history
According to legends, the first burials were here before the foundation of Prague. The exact date is unknown, but there is a high probability that this was during the reign of the first prince of the Czechs, Borzivoi I (circa 870). In Prague, the Jewish cemetery is located on the territory of the oldest Jewish quarter of Josefov . To date, burials dating from the early 15th century have been found. until 1787. Burial of people was made in layers (up to 12 layers), because Jews were forbidden to be buried outside the ghetto. It is estimated that more than 100 thousand people of this nationality are buried in this cemetery, at the same time at the present moment there are about 12 thousand surviving gravestones. Below you can see a photo of the old Jewish cemetery in Prague.
Interesting Facts
The old Jewish cemetery in Prague in the Czech Republic is the place of eternal rest for representatives of the Prague Jewish community. About it is necessary to know some of the nuances:
- The most ancient tombstone of 1439 was established over the grave of Avigdor Kara.
- The material of the first tombstones is sandstone, later they used white and pink marble.
- The oldest curbstone in the cemetery is located above the burial place of Mordechai Meisel.
- Restoration work has been carried out since 1975. Next to the most famous tombstones are memorial plates.
- The exhibition in the ceremonial hall, dedicated to the Jewish traditions, can be seen by all visitors to the cemetery. Here are collected items of Jewish life from the XV to XVIII centuries., Associated with the rituals of birth and death;
- In the literature of conspirologists, the cemetery appears as the meeting place of the Elders of Zion. It is believed that it was here that the famous protocols and forged documents on the world Jewish domination were written. Umberto Eco describes these meetings in the work "Prague Cemetery" in great detail.
Unique Symbols
Each tombstone tells not only about the human being, but also about his time:
- The oldest tombstones. They are simple design. Basically, the plates were made of sandstone semicircular or acute completion. The only decoration was information about the deceased person, engraved with a decorative font (name and profession).
- Monuments of the XVI century. Since this period, the tombstones are supplemented with decorative elements confirming the belonging of the deceased to Judaism. The main symbol was the star of David. Blessing hands were depicted on the graves of the clergy. The gravestones of the Levites are distinguished by the symbols of bowls and teapots intended for washing hands.
- Monuments of the XVII century. This period of graves in the Jewish cemetery allows you to see the assessment of the life of the deceased. If a person has the glory of a good name, then on his grave there is a crown. Grapes indicate a rich life and fertility.
- Names. Different animals on tombstones symbolized the name of a person. If a lion is depicted on the grave, then the man was called Aryeh, Leib, or Judas. Bear - a symbol of names Beer, Issachar, Dov. The deer are Hirsch, Naftali or Zvi. The bird adorned the graves of Zippora or Feigla, the Wolf - Wolf, Benjamin, Zeev. Also on the plates there are the symbols of the craft that a person was engaged in in life, for example, a medical lancet or a tailor's scissors.
- Tombstones since 1600. From this time, the baroque elements are clearly traced. The simple flat plates are replaced by four-sided pedestals.
Features of visiting the Jewish cemetery in Prague
The pogost is located on the territory of the Josefov quarter. Not far from the Jewish cemetery in Prague are the Old Synagogue and the Jewish Town Hall - the oldest sights of the city. Visiting this place is possible according to this schedule:
- Monday and Wednesday from 11:00 to 15:00;
- Friday from 09:00 to 13:00
- weekends - Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday and Jewish holidays;
- The admission ticket costs $ 2.32.
Jewish cemetery in Prague - how to get there?
The most accessible ways:
- take the metro to the station Staroměstská;
- on trams Nos. 3,14,17,24,51,52,53,54,56, get off at the stop of Právnická fakulta.