The cemetery contains the remains of thousands of victims exhumed from mass graves and individual burial sites across the Terezín area after the liberation.
The area was originally planned to be an integral part of the Nazi-designed memorial project for the Terezín ghetto.
Many of the grave markers represent symbolic burials for those whose remains were incinerated at the local crematorium.
The site is maintained by the Terezín Memorial organization to preserve the memory of the victims of Nazi persecution.
The cemetery is situated outside the walls of the Small Fortress, contrasting with the interior prison environment.
The Terezín National Cemetery serves as the final resting place for victims of the Terezín Ghetto, the Gestapo Police Prison in the Small Fortress, and the Litoměřice concentration camp. Located at the entrance to the Small Fortress, it features over 2,000 burial mounds marked by wooden crosses and Stars of David. The site was established in 1945 to commemorate those who died during the Holocaust in the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. It stands as a profound symbol of the suffering endured by prisoners under Nazi occupation. The cemetery layout is geometrically arranged to emphasize the scale of the human tragedy that occurred within the fortress complex.
From the perimeter path, capturing the rows of crosses and Stars of David with the fortress walls in the background.
Visit the Small Fortress museum first to gain the necessary historical context for the cemetery.
Combine your visit with the Ghetto Museum located in the main town area to understand the full scope of the camp's history.
Wear comfortable, sturdy shoes as the ground in the cemetery area is largely unpaved and uneven.
Do not treat the site as a casual park; photography of individual graves should be done with extreme sensitivity.
Open daily, but access to the wider fortress complex may be limited during inclement weather.
Maintain a somber, respectful tone; refrain from loud conversations and follow signs regarding restricted areas.
