Prague unveils new manual for the city’s cemeteries

Petr Hlaváček, Prague’s Deputy Mayor for Territorial Development and the Land Use Plan, says: “Prague’s cemeteries are an important part of the city’s public space. We needed a manual that would help to boost the culture and management of cemeteries. I am always pleased when we approve documents that are not only high quality, but also have aesthetic appeal. The Prague Cemeteries Manual will become a valuable supplement to the Prague Public Space Design Manual.”  

The document explains the city’s basic conceptual approach to its cemeteries and includes a series of recommendations aimed at raising the standard of Prague’s cemeteries, and improving these spaces and their links to the surrounding structure of the city. The plan also takes into account the role of the cemeteries in the city’s system of green infrastructure, and society’s changing approaches to burial.

Milena Johnová, City Councilor for Social Policy, which also includes funeral and undertaking services, says: “Just as death is part of life, so the cemetery is part of the city. I would like us not to turn a blind eye to either. Therefore, I warmly welcome the creation of this manual, which, aside from making their technical parameters and other visible aspects more consistent, will show the cemetery as part of the public space and will serve as a guide on how to develop all of its important functions. The cemetery does not have to be merely a place where we grieve. The cemetery can be a place to rest and relax, an open-air gallery, or a way of improving the local climate by retaining water in the landscape, while fully preserving its sacredness.”  

The document also includes a Catalogue of Prague Cemeteries, which includes basic information about the cemeteries managed by the Prague Cemeteries Administration. This includes almost half of the 84 cemeteries situated within the capital. The others are administered by the individual city districts or various churches.

Ondřej Boháč, director of IPR Prague, notes: “Prague has finally issued a document for an important area that has long been overlooked. The cemeteries within the capital, of which there are currently 84, often form a barrier; they are not permeable, and the way they are looked after often varies greatly. The new manual aims to support and unify their development and highlight the potential for improving these places as part of the city’s public space.” 

The manual can be downloaded here (CZ only).