Olšany Cemetery, Public burial ground in Žižkov, Prague, Czech Republic
Olšany Cemetery is a public burial ground in Žižkov, Prague, that extends across twelve separate sections and holds more than 230,000 graves along with six columbariums. The site features Art Nouveau architectural elements and holds the status of a national cultural monument of the Czech Republic.
The burial ground opened in 1680 during a plague outbreak when authorities moved interments outside the city walls for health reasons. Over the centuries, the site expanded multiple times to accommodate different religious communities and growing population needs.
The burial ground holds the remains of writers, composers, and public figures whose names appear on headstones and memorial plaques throughout the sections. Visitors notice locals walking quietly along tree-lined paths or pausing at graves on anniversary dates and national remembrance days.
The grounds open at 8 AM throughout the year, but closing time shifts to 7 PM during warmer months and 5 PM when days grow shorter. Paved paths connect the separate sections and allow easy movement between areas, though some parts require walking on gravel or grass.
The grounds include a Jewish section considered the largest in the country, preserving many historical gravestones with Hebrew inscriptions. Orthodox graves feature distinct dome-shaped markers and icons that stand apart from monuments elsewhere in the complex.
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