Stones whisper stories here. These stones mark Vinohrady Cemetery. It is a place of rest. It is a place of remembrance. Vinohrady Cemetery offers a glimpse into Czech history.
Vinohrady Cemetery was established in 1885. It sits on the eastern edge of Vinohrady. This makes it part of Prague 10. Over time, the cemetery grew. It expanded three times. Today, it covers 10 hectares. That is about 25 acres. While large, Cabbage Cemetery is the largest in Prague.
Many important Czechs rest here. Painter Jakub Schikaneder is buried here. So is sculptor Otto Gutfreund. Poet Stanislav Kostka Neumann also calls this place his last home. Writers Karel Václav Rais and Zikmund Winter are here too. The family tomb of ex-president Václav Havel is also in Vinohrady Cemetery.
In 1897, Antonín Turek designed a chapel. Turek was a municipal architect. The chapel stands near the entrance. It is dedicated to St Wenceslas. Do not confuse it with the St Wenceslas Church nearby. In front of the chapel lie heroes. They died in the Prague Uprising of May 1945. A memorial honors children. They were killed during the German occupation. This was during the Second World War.
The Strašnice Crematorium opened in 1932. It is part of the Vinohrady Cemetery complex.
Former President Emil Hácha is buried here. His burial was under heavy security. It was July 1, 1945. Interior Minister Václav Nosek ordered his grave unmarked. Nosek arrested Hácha. This was on May 13, 1945. Hácha collaborated with the Nazis. He died in prison on June 27. His grave was unmarked for years. Today, a simple gravestone marks his place.
Václav Havel’s ashes rest in the family vault. Havel was the first president of the Czech Republic. His first wife, Olga Havlová, was buried here in 1996. Havel was cremated at Strasnice Crematorium. The ceremony was private. His state funeral was at Vinohrady Cemetery. Many heads of state attended. The nation mourned for three days.
Vinohrady Cemetery is a cultural monument. The Czech Republic protects it. In September 2012, it opened to the public. This was part of European Heritage Days.
Visiting Vinohrady Cemetery is free. You can walk from Olsany Cemetery. It is just across the street. Take the metro A to Zelivskeho. Or take tram 11, 19, or 26. Get off at Vinohradské hrbitovy. Remember to be respectful. This is a place of rest.
Walk among the stones. Read the names. Remember the stories of those who shaped the Czech Republic. Vinohrady Cemetery is more than just a cemetery. It is a living history book.