Olšany Cemetery

Prague


Huge and atmospheric, Prague’s main burial ground was founded in 1680 to handle the increased deaths during a plague epidemic. Jan Palach, the student who set himself on fire in January 1969 to protest the Soviet invasion, is buried here, as is Czechoslovakia's first communist president, Klement Gottwald. To find Palach's grave, enter the main gate (flanked by flower shops) on Vinohradská and turn right – it’s about 50m along on the left of the path.

The oldest gravestones can be found in the northwestern corner of the cemetery, near the 17th-century Chapel of St Roch, but the most flamboyant art-nouveau memorials and mausoleums are concentrated around the main entrance and along the main path leading north. The cemetery's most elaborate monument, the Hrdličkova family tomb, lies just inside the main entrance and shows the deceased soldier Hans appearing to his mother in a dream, while she is comforted by Emperor Franz Josef I.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Prague attractions

1. Jan Palach's Grave

0.06 MILES

Jan Palach, a student who set himself on fire in January 1969 to protest the Soviet invasion, is buried in Olšany Cemetery. To find his grave, enter the…

2. New Jewish Cemetery

0.24 MILES

Franz Kafka is buried in this cemetery, which opened around 1890 when the older Jewish cemetery – at the foot of the TV Tower – was closed. To find Kafka…

3. Chapel of St Roch

0.44 MILES

The 17th-century Chapel of St Roch is in the northwestern corner of Olšany Cemetery.

4. Kafka's Grave

0.44 MILES

Franz Kafka is buried in the New Jewish Cemetery, which opened around 1890 when the older Jewish cemetery – at the foot of the TV Tower – was closed. To…

5. Miminka (David Černý Sculpture)

0.77 MILES

Perhaps David Černý's most famous public artwork is the 10 giant crawling babies with slots for faces that appear to be exploring the outside of the TV…

6. TV Tower

0.77 MILES

Prague’s tallest landmark – and depending on your tastes, either its ugliest or its most futuristic feature – is the 216m-tall TV Tower, erected between…

8. Hunt Kastner

0.94 MILES

This small gallery highlights some of the best up-and-coming Czech artists working in the visual arts, including painting, photography and video. The…