Forest Cemetery
A cemetery where the end of life should be intertwined with the beginning of something new. Bata's inspiration for the final resting place hidden among the mature trees came from America. Coincidentally, Tomas Bata was one of the first to rest here.
The Forest Cemetery is located in a quiet part of Zlín city. In its neighbourhood there is a dense forest, film studios and family houses of the Kudlov district. It was Doctor Gerbec who set the idea of the forest park cemetery in motion. He used the inspiration that Bata brought from overseas, and together with František Lýdie Gahura created a unique place in the forest in Březnice. A place which was to serve not only for burials but also for gatherings and, according to Tomas Bata, also picnics.
In the 1930s, only the basic centerline of the cemetery was built. Unpaved forest paths were used to access the side plots and graves in order to create an intimate atmosphere and to soften the feeling of loss of loved ones. The graves were also to be minimalist and not to disturb the natural space of the forest any more than necessary. Gahura recommended that stonemasons use geometric forms and natural materials.
Although there have been many alterations over the years, a new ceremonial hall and cemetery gate have been added, the Forest Cemetery remains a place with a special atmosphere. There are graves of many important personalities who contributed to the development of Zlín from the 1930s to the present day.
Interesting facts
By a twist of fate, the first to be buried here was the son of Dr. Gerbec – Rudolf Jr., who died of pneumonia. He was soon followed by Tomas Bata and his pilot Jindřich Brouček, who died in a plane crash in 1932.
