A new civic association — Mekomot Slovakia — is undertaking the gradual restoration, clean-up, and maintenance of the Jewish cemetery in the historic town of Levoča, in eastern Slovakia. It started in August with clean-up operations and hopes to complete a step-by-step, five-stage work plan by the end of 2030.
“We have built upon previous initiatives, during which scouts and local volunteers helped remove part of the overgrowth and invasive vegetation,” it says on its web site.
Our work continues with systematic cleaning of the cemetery, documentation of burial sites, and preparation for long-term maintenance. The restoration of the cemetery is not only about preserving cultural heritage but also about a collective community effort that recognises the importance of its city’s history.
The cemetery, which is surrounded by a concrete fence installed around 15 years ago, dates back to the latter part of the 19th century and according to the ESJF includes around 200 gravestones. Many are toppled or broken, and some are illegible. See a photo gallery HERE.
Makomot has published on its web site the restiratuion plan for the coming years. It has established a crowd-funding site aimed at raising €6,100 for the project. You can access it HERE — then site breaks down all the cost details it is seeking:
Phase 1 (until April 2026)
Thorough cleaning of the cemetery area from overgrowth, tall grass, and invasive plants.
Phase 2 (autumn 2026 – spring 2027)
Removal of dangerous, old, and dry trees, trimming existing trees to a safe condition.
Phase 3 (until October 2026)
Repair of the entrance gate, partial replacement and repair of the fence, and improvement of the access path from the main gate.
Phase 4 (spring 2026 – August 2030)
Gradual repair and stabilization of gravestones and monuments – there are more than 400 burial sites within the area.
Phase 5 (in planning stage)
Construction of walking paths for safe visitor access throughout the cemetery grounds.
Click here to see a photo gallery, including some before and after pictures. You can follow the progress of the project on the Facebook and Instagram pages.
Watch a local TV report about the project (in Slovak):