The Spanish Synagogue in Prague

The Spanish Synagogue, den spanske synagogen, in Dusni street, the newest synagogue in the area of the so-called Jewish Town, yet paradoxically, it was built at the place of the presumably oldest synagogue, Old School (also known as Altshul). The synagogue is built in Moorish Revival Style. Only a little park with a modern statue of famous Prague writer Franz Kafka (by Jaroslav Róna) lies between it and the church of St Spirit. Today, the Spanish Synagogue is administered by the Jewish Museum in Prague. The Spanish Synagogue is not the first synagogue at the site. Before it there stood probably the oldest synagogue in Prague, Old School. In the second half of 19th century, capacity of the Old School did not suffice. The Reform Jewish Community, which used it by the time, therefore decided to demolish the synagogue in 1867 and one year later it was replaced by the new, Spanish Synagogue. Its name presumably refers to the style in which it was built, Moorish Revival style, which was inspired by the art of Arabic period of Spanish history (this name was not always prevalent, in the beginnings it was usually called by German-speaking Jews Geistgasse-Tempel, i.e. Temple in Spirit Street). The architectural plans were designed by Vojtěch Ignác Ullmann and Josef Niklas.
In 1935, a functionalistic building, designed by Karel Pecánek, was added to the synagogue. Till the Second World War it served to the Jewish Community as a hospital. The synagogue used the space of the new building as well; there was a vestibule and a winter oratory in it. Since 1935, the appearance of the synagogue remained essentially unchanged.
During the Second World War, confiscated properties of Czech Jewish Communities were stored in the synagogue. Ten years after the war, the synagogue was handed over to Jewish Museum and in 1958–1959 it was completely reconstructed inside. In the following year an exposition of synagogue textiles was opened there. Since the 1970s the building was neglected

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Filename: spanish_synagogue_praha.jpg
Copyright: Bente Haarstad
Image Size: 4608x3456 / 4.6MB; Antonin Baum Bohemia Böhmen Bøhmen Czech Dusni street EU Europa Europe European Union Holocaust Jewish monuments Josefov Judea Ketil Prague Praha Sentral-Europa The Jewish Quarter in Prague The Prague Jewish town The Prague ghetto The Spanish Synagogue Tschechien Tsjekkia Tsjekoslovakia architecture arkitektur capital catholic church democratic demokrati den jødiske bydelen i Praha den spanske synagogen exciting history glassmalerier gudshus historie historisk by hovedstad jøder jødisk katolikk katolsk largest city mai maurisk moorish pompuos pompøs reiseliv religion sightseeing stucco of gilded motifs synagoger synagogue the Czech Republic the Old Town tinted windows tourisme travel tsjekkisk turisme Česká republika
Contained in galleries: Synagogues in Europe, Jewish Qarter Praha

The Spanish Synagogue, den spanske synagogen, in Dusni street, the newest synagogue in the area of the so-called Jewish Town, yet paradoxically, it was built at the place of the presumably oldest synagogue, Old School (also known as Altshul). The synagogue is built in Moorish Revival Style. Only a little park with a modern statue of famous Prague writer Franz Kafka (by Jaroslav Róna) lies between it and the church of St Spirit. Today, the Spanish Synagogue is administered by the Jewish Museum in Prague. The Spanish Synagogue is not the first synagogue at the site. Before it there stood probably the oldest synagogue in Prague, Old School. In the second half of 19th century, capacity of the Old School did not suffice. The Reform Jewish Community, which used it by the time, therefore decided to demolish the synagogue in 1867 and one year later it was replaced by the new, Spanish Synagogue. Its name presumably refers to the style in which it was built, Moorish Revival style, which was inspired by the art of Arabic period of Spanish history (this name was not always prevalent, in the beginnings it was usually called by German-speaking Jews Geistgasse-Tempel, i.e. Temple in Spirit Street). The architectural plans were designed by Vojtěch Ignác Ullmann and Josef Niklas. <br />
In 1935, a functionalistic building, designed by Karel Pecánek, was added to the synagogue. Till the Second World War it served to the Jewish Community as a hospital. The synagogue used the space of the new building as well; there was a vestibule and a winter oratory in it. Since 1935, the appearance of the synagogue remained essentially unchanged. <br />
During the Second World War, confiscated properties of Czech Jewish Communities were stored in the synagogue. Ten years after the war, the synagogue was handed over to Jewish Museum and in 1958–1959 it was completely reconstructed inside. In the following year an exposition of synagogue textiles was opened there. Since the 1970s the building was neglected