Břevnovský hřbitov

Where do the melodies of past and present intertwine? Here at the Břevnovský hřbitov, a place where stories whisper from the stones. Břevnovský hřbitov rests near the Břevnov Monastery. It’s tucked away between U Větrníku and U Vojtěšky streets, accessible through two entrances. Founded in 1739, Břevnovský hřbitov initially served as the final resting place for the monks of the adjacent monastery. The cemetery expanded twice in the 19th century, in 1869 and 1881. This expansion pushed the northeastern wall further from the monastery, creating space between the cemetery and the monastery garden. Today, Břevnovský hřbitov houses the remains of dozens of prominent figures. Near the gate leading to the monastery garden stands the Chapel of St. Lazarus. Originally dedicated to the Virgin Mary, it was built in 1762 based on Anselm Lurago’s design. Inside, paintings depict the Last Judgment and the Raising of Lazarus. Initially a small structure, the chapel was expanded in 1778. Services and masses were held here until the mid-20th century. Other notable structures within Břevnovský hřbitov include a mortuary from the mid-19th century, an entrance office building, and a sandstone statue of St. Prokop dating back to 1743, crafted by Karel Josef Hiernle. The former tomb of Johann Sametz, resembling a neo-Gothic chapel, stands near the western wall. Sametz, a regional lawyer and shareholder of the Smíchov Brewery, established the tomb. However, it was later abandoned and emptied after 1950. It now stands in a state of disrepair. Břevnovský hřbitov also holds the remains of notable figures such as Karel Kryl, the poet and songwriter. He rests in the company of friends and contemporaries, including Jan Anastáz Opasek. Opasek, the Břevnov archiopat, was a former prisoner of the communist regime. Other notable burials include poets Ivan Diviš and Petr Kabeš, and philosopher Jan Patočka, a signatory of Charter 77. The architect Jan Sokol designed several simple graves here, including that of his son, also named Jan Sokol. The younger Sokol was a translator, publicist, philosopher, dissident, and politician. The beauty of Břevnovský hřbitov lies in its simplicity and detail. It offers a peaceful space for reflection, where history and art converge amidst the quiet whispers of the departed.