Historic sites

Jewish Cemetery in Józefów

The Jewish Cemetery in Józefów Biłgorajski lies on Kamienna Street, on a hillside beside a quarry. It was probably founded around 1725, soon after Józefów was chartered, and is one of the most valuable sites of Jewish heritage in the Lublin region. Its character comes from limestone matzevot, a natural setting outside the town centre and visible traces of wartime and post-war destruction.

Matzevot made from local limestone

The oldest surviving tombstone dates from 1737, while the last documented burial took place in 1943. Most matzevot were carved from local limestone quarried nearby. Hebrew inscriptions, traces of polychromy and hundreds of tombstones and fragments survive. The arrangement of the quarters reflects former burial customs, including separate areas for men and women.

War and conservation

During the Second World War the cemetery was devastated, and some matzevot were used to harden roads and for construction. The grounds continued to deteriorate after 1945, but its listing as a protected monument in 1969, followed by clean-up and signposting, helped secure the site. Remember that this is not only a historical attraction but also a place of burial and memory for Józefów’s Jewish community.

Practical information

The cemetery is on Kamienna Street, south of the centre, beside the quarry; do not confuse it with another Józefów or with the execution site on the road to Biłgoraj. Check local access and the condition of the approach before travelling. Keep quiet, do not touch the matzevot and never climb on tombstones.