Huge and atmospheric, Prague’s main burial ground was founded in 1680 to handle the increased deaths during a plague epidemic. Jan Palach , the student who set himself on fire in January 1969 to protest the Soviet invasion, is buried here. To find his grave, enter the main gate (flanked by flower shops) on Vinohradská and turn right – it’s about 50m along on the left of the path.
The oldest gravestones can be found in the northwestern corner of the cemetery, near the 17th-century Chapel of St Roch . There are several entrances to the cemetery running along Vinohradská, east of Flora metro station, and also beside the chapel on Olšanská.
