The owner of the so-called lunatic cemetery will be Prague, and Prague 8 will take care of it

Prague – The so-called cemetery of the mad in Prague's Bohnice will become the property of the capital city. The cemetery will then be entrusted to the administration of the Prague 8 municipality, which is expected to happen this May. Prague councilor Jan Chabr (TOP 09) told reporters today. The cemetery originally belonged to the Bohnice Psychiatric Hospital, and deceased individuals suffering from mental illness were buried here. It was subsequently managed by the Office for Representation of the State in Property Matters. No further burials will take place at the cemetery.

"The area is in a state of despair and it was excess land for the state. There were unauthorized entries and illegal dump sites were being created. The municipal district is interested in this land and wants to take care of it," said Chabr.

The inactive cemetery is located west of the psychiatric hospital and is not far from a gardening colony or an animal cemetery. Prague 8 has expressed interest in it in the past when it reached an agreement with the state on the management of the cemetery and planned the restoration of the wall and chapel. Renewing burials is not possible, among other reasons, because the specific locations of where the deceased are buried are unknown.

The cemetery was consecrated on September 12, 1909, and the first person buried there was eleven-year-old František Janovský. Burials ceased in 1951. The cemetery occupies an area of about 2.5 hectares.