National Cemetery Terezín Guide
A Place of Remembrance: The National Cemetery Terezín Guide
The National Cemetery Terezín serves as a poignant memorial to the victims of the Terezín concentration camp and other Nazi atrocities committed in the region. Located adjacent to the Small Fortress, this vast cemetery holds the remains of thousands of individuals who perished due to starvation, disease, execution, or deportation to extermination camps. It is a place of quiet reflection and remembrance, offering visitors the opportunity to pay their respects to those who suffered and died under the Nazi regime. Established after the liberation of Terezín in 1945, the National Cemetery became the final resting place for the remains exhumed from mass graves within the Small Fortress and surrounding areas. The cemetery's layout is simple and dignified, with rows upon rows of identical gravestones, each bearing the name and, where known, the date of death of a victim. For those whose names remain unknown, the gravestones are marked with the inscription "Neznámý" (Unknown). Visitors can walk among the gravestones, reading the names and reflecting on the individual lives lost. The central memorial, a large stone monument, serves as a focal point for remembrance ceremonies and provides a space for quiet contemplation. The cemetery is a powerful reminder of the human cost of intolerance and hatred, and a testament to the importance of preserving the memory of the Holocaust.
Transportation
The National Cemetery is located in Terezín, adjacent to the Small Fortress. The easiest way to reach Terezín from Prague is by bus. Several bus companies operate direct services from Prague's main bus station (Praha Florenc) to Terezín. The journey takes approximately 1 hour. Once in Terezín, the National Cemetery is within walking distance of the bus station and the Small Fortress. Alternatively, you can take a train from Prague to Bohušovice nad Ohří and then a local bus to Terezín.