Ancient Cemetary

This ancient cemetery, in the heart of the Jewish Town or Josefov, in Prague, was opened in the 15th Century and closed to further burials in the latter part of the 18th Century. The first person buried within the walls of this restricted area was Avigdor Kara, a preeminent poet. His original tombstone has been removed and placed for viewing in the safety of the adjacent Klausen Synagogue/museum to the right of the cemetery gate as one departs.

Due to the restriction on the size of the cemetery, 12,000 bodies were buried 20 feet deep, one layer upon another. As each layer was added, the tombstones were moved to the surface. This layering has created what amounts to an encyclopedic reference library of a substantial part of the rich history of the Jews of Prague. Among those buried here are Delmedigo, contemporary colleague of Gallileo.