Brno Central Cemetery is a burial ground containing a mass grave with the remains of 1,107 people. Among those buried are people persecuted by the communist regime, figures of cultural and scientific life, and people without relatives or with established identities. The grave lies in cemetery section number 109, grave plot number one, where a memorial plaque commemorating those buried is to be installed by the end of 2026.[1][2]*

Archaeological survey of the mass grave

The archaeological survey at the Central Cemetery in 2021 was initiated by Sdružení Paměť, on the basis of historical testimonies that the remains of victims of the communist regime had been secretly deposited here. Thanks to the cooperation of experts from the Moravian Museum and archaeologists from Masaryk University, 1,107 urns were uncovered and 605 of them identified. The findings were commented on by Filip Chvátal (KDU-ČSL, according to another source given as Lidovci a starostové), deputy mayor of Brno for the environment, who praised the work of Sdružení Paměť.[1][2]

Art competition and memorial plaque

Brno announced an art competition for the design of the memorial site, aiming to find an original yet dignified artistic solution. The winning design by sculptor Dušan Váňa works with the number 1,107, which corresponds to the number of people buried in the mass grave: a matching number of crosses is carved into a square plate, one for each person buried.[1][2]

The memorial plaque will measure 150 × 150 centimetres and will be made of Corten steel, which resists the weather well thanks to a protective patina resembling rust. The individual crosses will be worked into the plate as negatives, while a central stainless steel cross will rise above its surface. According to the city hall, the plaque is to be installed on grave plot number one in cemetery section 109 by the end of 2026.[1][2]

Chronology

  • — Brno chose the design of a memorial plaque for the 1,107 people buried in the mass grave at the Central Cemetery, among them victims of the communist regime; according to the city hall the Corten steel plaque is to be designed by sculptor Dušan Váňa and installed by the end of the year. → Deník: Jihomoravský kraj Novinky.cz

Sources

  1. Deník (Jihomoravský kraj) — 27 August 2026
  2. Novinky.cz — 26 September 2026