Spanish Synagogue

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In 1868, the Moorish-style Spanish Synagogue was built on the site of Prague’s oldest Jewish prayer house, called the Old School, according to the project of Vojtěch Ignác Ullmann and Josef Niklas. The new exhibition maps the last 200 years of Jewish history in the Czech lands.

The youngest of Prague ‘s Jewish City synagogues is ranked among the most beautiful for its lavishly decorated interior, in which oriental or natural stucco motifs predominate . The architects here were mainly inspired by Islamic architecture, which is dominated by richly decorated and gilded elements, from which the eyes pass. Beautiful carvings can be seen on the doors and railings. Colored stained glass windows and interior decoration according to the designs of architects A. Baum and B. Münzberger were completed in 1893. In the years 1836 – 45, František Škroup, the composer of the Czech national anthem, worked as an organist in the Old School.

And how did the synagogue get its name? In the sixteenth century there wasthe expulsion of the Jews from Spain by Isabella of Castile, and after leaving their original homeland, a small part of them settled in Prague . They acquired this already mentioned school as their tabernacle, which, since the Spanish settlement, began to be called the Spanish Synagogue . After some time, the school ceased to be suitable due to the growing Jewish community, so a new building was started.

The expensive renovation (2019 – 2020) expanded the exhibition space to more than 600 m 2 and, among other things, enabled barrier-free access to the three floors of the synagogue. The synagogue will continue to be used to host evening programs, especially classical music concerts .

During the war, the synagogue was a warehouse

During World War II, the synagogue served as a warehouse for confiscated synagogue objects from Czech Jewish communities . It was acquired by the State Jewish Museum in 1955, and in 1960 an exhibition of synagogue textiles was opened in it. Since the 1970s, the synagogue was neglected and closed in 1982. Reconstruction could only begin after 1989, and in the 1990s the Spanish Synagogue was restored.

Exposition of the last 200 years of Jewish history in the Czech lands

The exhibition ” Jews in the Czech Lands, 19th-20th Century ” opened in December 2020 (after extensive reconstruction of the synagogue) maps the past two centuries full of historical upheavals that the Czech and Moravian Jewish community went through. Those interested will see Judaica and other three-dimensional exhibits, documents, films and photographs .

It introduces the gradual equalization and emancipation of Jews in Austria-Hungary , the emergence of the Czech-Jewish and Zionist movements , the most important businessmen, scientists, writers, musicians and artists (among others, Franz Kafka, Sigmund Freud, Gustav Mahler). It also approximates the reconstruction of Prague ‘s Jewish Town, Jewish monuments of Bohemia and Moravia and the history of the Jewish Museum in Prague. Special attention is paid to the Holocaust of Czech and Moravian Jews in 1939-1945 and the Terezín ghetto .