{"id":98,"date":"2010-09-01T21:14:16","date_gmt":"2010-09-01T19:14:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/parosparadise.com\/CzechMates\/2010\/09\/01\/olsanske-olsany-cemetery\/"},"modified":"2013-12-04T13:51:44","modified_gmt":"2013-12-04T12:51:44","slug":"olsanske-olsany-cemetery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/parosparadise.com\/CzechMates\/2010\/09\/01\/olsanske-olsany-cemetery\/","title":{"rendered":"Olsanske (Olsany) Cemetery"},"content":{"rendered":"

“In the year 1679 a piece of land owned by a farmer was sold to the town of Prague. That land was located in the village of Olsany, not far from the old town. The reason for the business was the plague which struck and subsequently took the lives of more than 30,000 people that year, generating the need for new burial places and more ground to lodge them. The actual size of this large necropolis is about 50 hectares (150 acres) with a total of 112,000 graves; more then 2,000,000 people have been buried there since it came into existence. It is the burial place of many famous people from Czech history. It is as if time stopped still here; forgotten, while the rest of the city is left to its economic boom and development. At the new shopping center (Flora) which is built at the edge of the cemetery, you can eat at the restaurants on the top floor, and have one of the best views of the cemetery: its crumbling graves and the little old ladies who seem to be continuously tidying them.<\/em>”<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

That write up from Wikipedia pretty much defines one of Prague’s largest cemeteries.\u00a0 Olsanske was very near our apartment; a short tram ride or a nice walk.<\/p>\n

I walked many times in this lovely spot more like a park than a place of “repose”\u009d.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Because it is so large, runners use it for exercise, the general public for short cuts, mothers for taking kiddies on walks, and others like myself, just walking, looking and learning.\u00a0 So much history here!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

This building is now a shed with a very old date – sometime in the 1700’s!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Most graves are well tended.\u00a0 Some were very very old and crumbling which only adds to the beauty. Here is an example of one I liked.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"KarinJan Palach is a Czech hero.\u00a0 In January 1969, during communism, he was a young University student.\u00a0 Frustrated at the world and the demeaning of life during that time, he set himself afire (self- immolation) to make a political statement.\u00a0 We found his burial site in Olsanske and joined others in leaving flowers commemorating the day of his death.\u00a0 As a mother, I wondered how painful it must have been for his mother and family.<\/p>\n

\"Path<\/a>During the three months we were in Prague I visited Olsanske several times, once after a big snow storm.\u00a0 It was so beautiful and romantic I could almost imagine riding through in a sleigh,wrapped up in furs, horses trotting, bells jingling! For me this cemetery on this particular day was definitely not a sad place but a happy place full of romance and poetry.<\/p>\n

Cemeteries have always intrigued me.\u00a0 They are full of history. \u00a0I enjoyed finding and paying homage to famous people (writers, artists, musicians), seeing the different styles of headstones throughout the ages.\u00a0 Realizing some of the oldest graves were from the plague times when they could not be buried in town, but out here in this village called Olsany!\u00a0 (Now of course, right IN town!)\u00a0 I walked the entire perimeter which is about a mile in total.\u00a0 Most days I walked all over inside, adding more miles.\u00a0 And yet, I did not see it all.\u00a0 I will save that for next time!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

“In the year 1679 a piece of land owned by a farmer was sold to the town of Prague. That land was located in the village of Olsany, not far from the old town. The reason for the business was … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[13,4],"tags":[177,175,176,178,5],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2MK34-1A","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1529,"url":"https:\/\/parosparadise.com\/CzechMates\/2014\/05\/27\/prague-cemetery-could-become-its-next-big-tourist-attraction-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":98,"position":0},"title":"Prague cemetery to become celebrated","author":"Michael","date":"May 27, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Ol\u0161any, the biggest cemetery in Prague, although not featured on our Favourites page, is, nevertheless, a place we visit often. \u00a0We wrote about it here and Karin has a photo journal here. Now, according to a recent press release from the Czech News agency it will no longer be known\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/parosparadise.com\/CzechMates\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/parosparadise.com\/CzechMates\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/OlsanyMainStreet-300x225.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":320,"url":"https:\/\/parosparadise.com\/CzechMates\/2011\/03\/14\/a-journey-over-many-years\/","url_meta":{"origin":98,"position":1},"title":"A Journey over Many Years","author":"Karin","date":"March 14, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"It all happened a long time ago probably in the 1980's.\u00a0 When my daughter was about 12 years old she wanted her bedroom to have a new, grownup look.\u00a0 We researched various different styles, added some new furniture and found the perfect picture for the wall.\u00a0 It was a print\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Places"","block_context":{"text":"Places","link":"https:\/\/parosparadise.com\/CzechMates\/category\/places\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Four Seasons by Mucha","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/parosparadise.com\/CzechMates\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/alphonse-mucha-the-four-seasons.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":541,"url":"https:\/\/parosparadise.com\/CzechMates\/2012\/09\/10\/only-in-prague\/","url_meta":{"origin":98,"position":2},"title":"Only in Prague","author":"Michael","date":"September 10, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Lately we have been day dreaming about our return to Prague--wondering when and where.\u00a0\u00a0Karin was searching for available\u00a0apartments and came\u00a0across\u00a0this gem.\u00a0\u00a0We thought maybe it was a mistake and some museum photos got mixed in.\u00a0\u00a0We have paid admission fees to see rooms not as elegant as this! This three room flat\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Places"","block_context":{"text":"Places","link":"https:\/\/parosparadise.com\/CzechMates\/category\/places\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":535,"url":"https:\/\/parosparadise.com\/CzechMates\/2012\/08\/29\/adrenaline-sports-in-prague\/","url_meta":{"origin":98,"position":3},"title":"Adrenaline Sports in Prague","author":"Michael","date":"August 29, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Prague is well known for its old world charms such as its architecture, Christmas markets and beer.\u00a0 Now it is making a name for itself in the modern world of adrenaline sports.\u00a0 As any large city it has its share of paintball arenas and skateboard parks; balloon flights, paragliding, and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Places"","block_context":{"text":"Places","link":"https:\/\/parosparadise.com\/CzechMates\/category\/places\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/parosparadise.com\/CzechMates\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/08\/flightsim-300x225.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":213,"url":"https:\/\/parosparadise.com\/CzechMates\/2010\/10\/26\/a-mala-strana-sunday\/","url_meta":{"origin":98,"position":4},"title":"A Mala Strana Sunday","author":"Karin","date":"October 26, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"Mala Strana (started around 1257) is a district of Prague and the name means Lesser Town or Lesser Side.\u00a0 One can reach it by leaving Old Town and walking across Charles Bridge.\u00a0 Voila!\u00a0 You are there!\u00a0 Right below the Prague Castle!\u00a0Mala Strana is home to Kampa Island, Petrin Hill, Maltese\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Places"","block_context":{"text":"Places","link":"https:\/\/parosparadise.com\/CzechMates\/category\/places\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/parosparadise.com\/CzechMates\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/10\/Infant-of-Prague-church-Karin-225x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1200,"url":"https:\/\/parosparadise.com\/CzechMates\/2014\/04\/17\/travel-advisory-good-bad\/","url_meta":{"origin":98,"position":5},"title":"Travel Advisory: Good & Bad","author":"Michael","date":"April 17, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"U Vejvod\u016f\u00a0 is a large and busy pub\/restaurant in the center of Prague's tourist area near Old Town Square. \u00a0On their home page they write: \"During our operation of this restaurant we have received several pleasant evaluations in the form of letters of thanks from the highest representatives of our\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Events"","block_context":{"text":"Events","link":"https:\/\/parosparadise.com\/CzechMates\/category\/events\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/parosparadise.com\/CzechMates\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/EasterMarket-220x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/parosparadise.com\/CzechMates\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/parosparadise.com\/CzechMates\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/parosparadise.com\/CzechMates\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/parosparadise.com\/CzechMates\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/parosparadise.com\/CzechMates\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=98"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/parosparadise.com\/CzechMates\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1049,"href":"https:\/\/parosparadise.com\/CzechMates\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98\/revisions\/1049"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/parosparadise.com\/CzechMates\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=98"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/parosparadise.com\/CzechMates\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=98"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/parosparadise.com\/CzechMates\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=98"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}