Spanish Synagogue

The Spanish Synagogue stands on the site of Prague’s oldest synagogue in the Jewish Quarter. Ironically, the Spanish Synagogue is now the youngest one in Prague. It is renowned for its stunning Moorish Revival architecture and intricate interior design, which make it one of the most beautiful synagogues in Europe. It is also known for its excellent acoustics and regularly hosts classical music concerts.

It stands separated from the Church of the Holy Spirit by an unconventional statue of Franz Kafka. The Spanish Synagogue gets its name from its grandiose Moorish-Andalusian architecture inspired by Alhambra in Spain. Once a place of holy gathering for the Jewish communities of the ghetto, the synagogue is now a part of the Jewish Museum in Prague. During the dark days of World War II, properties of the Jewish communities confiscated by German forces were stored in the synagogue. Although handed over to the Jews after the war, modern restorations did not start till after the Velvet Revolution. At present, the Spanish Synagogue displays a permanent exhibition on the history of the Jews in the Bohemian Lands from as early as the 1780s to after the end of World War II.