Olšany cemetery in Prague. Famous people buried at the olšany cemetery

One of the most visited sights in Prague-Olšany cemetery. It is located in the third administrative district of the city. Often, before you choose a tour to the Czech capital, tourists precise – whether a visit to this place in the program of excursions. And no wonder: there are many mysterious corners where dark art is intertwined with the whisper of thousands of lives.

A plague: the history of the cemetery

The Story of this place originates in the middle Ages. Then this place was located the village of Olshany, then opened the farm belonging to the monastery. Later, the authorities decided to take the territory of a large garden under quarantine cemetery. This decision was dictated by life itself: in 1680 the city was struck by a terrible plague. To bury the dead from her cemeteries located in the cathedrals, it was simply dangerous.

A New wave of the epidemic has covered Prague in 1715. Raging infection claimed more and more lives. His last refuge was found dead in the exact same area. Later, in 1796, the Emperor Joseph the Second announced – Olshansky cemetery should be permanent. Here were buried the inhabitants of two parts of Prague: Old and New Town. For 200 years this place was a refuge for the ordinary people and prominent personalities. The rest are here found Jan Palach, Sophia Tolstaya, Vasily Levitsky, Arkady Averchenko and many others.

The Main point of tourist routes

Today it is safe to call this cemetery is the most visited sight of Prague. The graves of the people who wrote the story, picturesque, Gothic tombstones and the Ghost of a Sad girl – the necropolis have a surprise.

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The Olšany cemetery is surprising for its size. Its area-more than 50 hectares! According to official sources, 112 buried here thousands of people 65 thousand ordinary graves, 25 thousand tombs, six columbaria (burial sites with urns) cremated with twenty thousand, two hundred grave-chapels. However, according to unofficial data, the number buried is about two million. That is, in the necropolis of more people than live in Prague today.

System

System that allows you to navigate this vast territory, appeared in 1835. New areas that appeared in the cemetery, began to be designated by Roman numerals. Now the necropolis includes 12 cemeteries, log on to it from three sides. In addition, in the complex of the cemetery are just two of the ritual hall for a farewell. Both were built in the late XIX century.

Neighborhood of death and art

The Necropolis is not only an impressive space, but also monuments, sculptures, tombs, and headstones. A substantial part of them dates back to the XVIII-XIX centuries, and therefore is considered a cultural heritage of the country.

The tourists attracts the headstone, depicting a tree struck by lightning. The work of the talented Czech modernist františek Rous, located near the main entrance. Here you can see sculptures of such masters as Ignaz Platzer, Vaclav Prukner, františek bílek. The work performed in different styles: from classicism to Baroque.

Famous people buried at the olšany cemetery

A List of famous people buried in the land of the Prague cemetery, long. For example, the peace found here Vasily Ivanovich Nemirovich-Danchenko. The elder brother of the famous theatrical figure, was a writer, journalist and traveler. He began to publish in the late 1860s: his artistic and ethnographic sketches were "Domestic notes”, “journal of Europe” and other publications. During the entire period of his creative career in the light left more than 60 volumes of his works. Revolution Vasily Nemirovich-Danchenko could not make and emigrated. The writer died in Prague – in September 1936.

In a politically difficult time for Russia left the country the writer Arkady Averchenko, the Opera singer Vasily Levitsky, Countess Sophia Tolstaya, and other figures in politics, science and culture. They are also buried at the olšany cemetery. Sheltered necropolis and famous Czechs. Here are the graves of the poet Josef Jungmann, Karel policy of Krameria, writer Vaclav Klicpera. In addition, buried here Jan Palach-a student who exposed himself to self-immolation. It happened in 1969. So the young man protested against the Soviet occupation.

Buried in the cemetery and the military. One the ground lay the body of representatives from the four armies of Russia – red, White, Imperial, and Liberation. In addition, there are the graves of those who died during the battles against Napoleon and fell during the fighting of world wars.

The First President of the Carpathian Ukraine Augustine Voloshin, too, rests on the Prague cemetery. Active political activity began in 1919. He founded the right of the Christian people's party, which he led from 1923 to 1939. By the way, it is known that Voloshin had contact with the government of Nazi Germany. He offered himself for the role of the President of Ukraine, which at that time was occupied by the Germans. Died Augustin Voloshin in Moscow, Butyrka prison.

The Tomb Kafka

The Necropolis consists of three main parts. One sector is reserved for the burial of the Czechs, the second – for the Orthodox citizens, and the third are the graves of the Jews. Here, by the way, was buried, Franz Kafka. His grave is located on a plot of 21. To trace it, you just need to go along the wall.

It is Worth noting that although Kafka wrote in German, he was a true son of Prague. He lived in the Czech capital, and is often visited as often was persecuted. A significant part of his life, Franz Kafka spent not far from the old town square where he grew up, were educated, worked, met with friends.

The Funeral in the Orthodox rite

Cultural Figures and politicians, who emigrated to Prague after the revolution, were buried at separate sites, observing all the Orthodox rites. For this there was built an Orthodox Church!

The Emergence of the Orthodox section of the cemetery was facilitated by Archpriest Nikolay Ryzhikov. He was rector of the Church of St. Nicholas, located in the old town square. Later Nikolay Ryzhikov started collecting funds for the erection of a chapel. However, this idea had to be abandoned. Again talking about it in 1923 – at the cemetery in Prague ceased to accommodate a large number of graves. On the call for help in raising funds responded to a number of people, a significant contribution was made by the Serbian people in the party left and the first Prime Minister of Czechoslovakia, Karel of Kramarz. In General, it was found that the collected money will be enough not just to a small chapel, and a Church! Worked on the creation of different people – has the power and knowledge of ordinary citizens. They worked free of charge, creating not just a Church of the assumption, but a symbol of solidarity and gratitude of the Russians, who hospitably took them in a foreign land. Church of the assumption of the blessed virgin Mary made in compliance with the motifs of ancient Pskov and Novgorod architecture. It is a monument to all Russian people who died on the wrong side. The first Abbot of the temple, became Bishop Sergiy Korolev.

Sad girl

Day Olšany cemetery is full of tourists, this necropolis, like everyone else, silent and deserted. There's no fuss: neither tourists nor citizens not to come in here after sunset. The rest is buried is only interrupted by Sad girl: they say that in the moonlit night of the month it appears in the oldest part of the cemetery – the Plague area. The witnesses described it like this: long dark flowing hair, a dress that is similar to the monastic. Girl or something says, or sings a sad song. Those who once heard her say that in the eyes of that tune welling with tears, heart filled with incredible sadness. And those who managed to look into the face of this Sad girl, I assure you – that face belongs to a man who knew great sorrow and great happiness.

The girl slowly walks through the night to the churchyard, bending over the gravestones of those who died from the plague. Her breaths barely audible, footstep, indistinguishable from the wind. Fragile, almost transparent figure slides between the sculptures and gravestones. Invariably the girl is moving to the same place – the crypt Olshansky. They say that here buried her lover.

How to reach the Prague cemetery?

From the city centre to the necropolis only three miles. Olšany cemetery is located at the address Vinohradská 1835/153. Can best be reached via the Prague metro – must drive to the station Flora. Those who want on the way to enjoy views of the city, you should choose tram No. 5, 10, 13, 51. To get to the stop of the Ol&scaro...