Grave of Benedikt Roezl in Panenský Týnec

In the small cemetery in Panenský Týnec near Louny, on the left side of the gate and backed by the cemetery wall there is the grave of famous Czech gardener, explorer and “plant hunter” Benedikt Roezl (August 13, 1824 – October 14, 1885). Roezl`s father Vincent, who was gardener at the Premonstratensians monastery in Pátek nad Ohří not far away, lies in the same grave.

Benedikt Roezl spent his childhood in Horoměřice and in Pátek nad Ohří, where his father taught him all about the profession of gardening. Later he trained in the chateau gardens in Děčín and was the apprentice of master gardener Franz Josst. From 1839 Roezl worked in several important European gardens but the most interesting part of his life is the time of his adventurous trips to North and South America between 1854 and 1875. During his expeditions he developed a passion for the “hunting” of exotic plants, especially orchids but also cacti and agaves. He would send them to Europe to big gardening companies. Roezl terminated the adventurous part of his life when he turned fifty-one and returned to Bohemia. He set up a seed shop in Prague, became president of the newly established Society of Artistic Gardeners Flora, and participated in the publishing of the first Czech magazine about gardening. At the end of his life he was awarded the Russian Imperial Order of St. Stanislaus. Benedikt Roezl died in Prague on October 14, 1885. Although Roezl did not study botany at the university, his passion made him the most important plant hunter of his time. Three plant genera are named after him, 142 plant species bear his name and he himself is the author of 181 taxonomical entries according to the database of scientific plant names (International Plant Name Index).

There is an obelisk on the grave, decorated with classical motives and with a tall point. There is a photograph of Benedikt Roezl in an oval ceramic frame at the top and below is an inscription saying: BENEDIKT RÖZL / botanist, famous explorer / of America, holder of Russian Imperial / Order of St. Stanislaus, first / president of Flora Society, / owner of house in Prague, parent / from Horoměřice, / † in Smíchov on October 14, 1885 / aged 61 years, and buried / here in the grave of his father / VINCENC RÖZL / chateau gardener in Pátek / retired, who died in Týnec Pan. / on April 7, 1875 aged 78 years.

České stopy v rostlinné říši Latinské Ameriky: Král orchidejí. URL: https://www.ceskatelevize.cz/porady/1120383693-ceske-stopy-v-rostlinne-risi-latinske-ameriky/203562262200001-kral-orchideji/video/ [20. 8. 2021].
Hoffmannová, E.: Don Benito. Božkov 1993.
Jelínek, M.: Benedikt Roezl (13.8.1824–14.10.1885), největší český lovec orchidejí. URL: http://www.orchideaklub.cz/?Botanici_a_orchideje___Benedikt_Roezl&search=roezl [20. 8. 2021].
Slavní rodáci a obyvatelé pátku. URL: http://www.zamekpatek.cz/rodaci.html [20. 8. 2021].
Tlustý, J.: Benedikt Roezl. URL: https://botany.cz/cs/roezl/ [20. 8. 2021].

(Author: jam)

Detail of an inscription. (Author: jam)

(Author: jam)