Karel Gott will be laid to rest at Prague’s Malvazinky Cemetery

The cremated remains of singer Karel Gott will be interred at Malvazinky Cemetery, about a kilometer from his family villa in Prague’s Smíchov district. At the same time, committee searching for a Prague street or landmark to name for him has narrowed choices down to four.

The decision about the cemetery was announced on Gott’s official website.

“I would like to inform you that, at the request of my husband, the cemetery at Malvazinky in Prague will be his resting place. He wished to rest where he lived much of his life, where he loved being, and where he felt at home. I believe that people who loved him will always find their way to it. When it’s ready, I’ll be happy to tell you the specific place,” his widow, Ivana Gottová, said.

She also thanked fans for their good wishes and support.

“I thank all of you heartily for all the condolences we have received and still receive from you in such large numbers over the past few weeks. Your words of support are a great encouragement for our family in these extremely difficult times,” she said.

Malvazinky Cemetery (Hřbitov Malvazinky), popularly called Smíchov Cemetery, is one of Prague’s largest, covering 7.6 hectares with remains of close to 54,500 people in 8,420 graves, 680 urn receptacles, 12 chapel tombs and two meadows for scattering ashes.

It was established in a former vineyard in 1876 for residents of Smíchov.

It is located near
the Radlická metro stop on the B line, but on top of a steep wooded
hill, requiring a substantial hike. It is also accessible from the
Laurová tram stop and Malvazinky bus stop.

A city committee
recently selected four locations could be named after Karel Gott, but
has not publicly disclosed them. The committee will now discuss the
proposals with Gott’s family.

A petition has
called for renaming Václav Havel Airport Prague to Karel Gott
Airport, but that seems unlikely. People have also suggested naming
one of the planned Metro D stations after the singer.

Other ideas
discussed in the media include a street or square in the planned
Smíchov City district, which should being built starting next year,
or the footbridge connecting Masarykovo nábřeží with Slovanský
ostrov.

The end of the
street where he lived has also been suggested. That location, which
is a cul-de-sac, became filled with candles, flowers and photographs
shorty after news of his death was announced.

One concern with
renaming a place where people live is that all the residents will
need to change their addresses on their ID cards, as well as update
insurance information, magazine subscriptions and other personal
details.

A street art mural of Gott has been painted in the underpass next to the National Museum. Memorials have also popped up in many cities in the Czech Republic.