Dating back to the 1400s, the Old Jewish Cemetery (Starý Židovský Hřbitov) is one of the most historic cemeteries you’ll find anywhere in Europe. As many as 12,000 tombstones are arranged throughout the cemetery, from the oldest remaining grave belonging to Avigdor Kara, to the grave of the famous Rabbi Loew.
The cemetery was in use for over three centuries up until the 1780s, and so contains many graves from this long period. For years, graves had to be built on top of each other as Jewish law forbids the removal of graves – and this was the only one in the region available in which Jews could be buried. In some parts of the cemetery, bodies are built up to 12 deep.
You can enter the cemetery by heading through the Pinkas Synagogue, which also hosts a moving memorial to the Holocaust victims from this part of the world, as well as drawing attention to the plight and struggles of Jewish people to this day.
Many people come here for a respite from the city and to take a tranquil walk through the shady groves across the cemetery. Take time to go and find the gravestone of the 15th century spiritual leader Rabbi Loew ben Bezalel, which you’ll see littered with tiny pieces of paper upon which are scrawled wishes from Jewish visitors. It is popularly believed that he can help to make their dreams come true.
Prague’s Jewish Quarter is easy to reach by metro or tram, and the cemetery is only a short walk away from both. It is closed on Saturdays as well as on Jewish holidays. If you want to avoid the queues of visitors buying tickets for the cemetery and surrounding attractions, then you can buy Jewish Museum tickets at a discounted price at the Maisel Synagogue, which you’ll find nearby.
