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Temperature: 17.3°C
Conditions: Clear
Wind Speed: 2.6km/h
Wind Direction: NNE
SPANISH SYNAGOGUE PRAGUE
Vězeňská 1/141 Praha 1 - Josefov, PRAHA
Vězeňská 1/141 Praha 1 - Josefov, PRAHA
A synagogue, later called the Old School, stood in this location as early as the 12th century. It received its present name at the beginning of the 16th century, when a group of Jews fleeing from the Spanish Catholic inquisition came to Prague. They belonged to the so-called Sephardic Jews, whose rituals differ slightly from those of the Ashkenazy Jews who settled in northern, western and eastern Europe.
The group of Spanish Jews used the synagogue in this location for several years before leaving to join their fellow-countrymen in Holland. Later on the synagogue survived several fires and was reconstructed a number of times. In 1836 it became a reformed synagogue and an organ was installed in it. František Škroup, the composer of the song “Kde domov můj” (Where is my home), the hymn of the Czech Republic, became the first organist and choirmaster here and worked here until 1845. The present day synagogue was designed by J. Niklas in 1882 in Moorish-Renaissance style with a large cupola. The interior is decorated with gilded and highly ornamental stucco work imitating Spanish interiors from Alhambra. The Spanish Synagogue is home to a permanent exhibition devoted to the history of Czech Jews from the 18th to the 20th century.
Dušní Street and the area surrounding the Spanish Synagogue used to be the oldest settlement and centre of the eastern Jews, as opposed to the Jews of the western ritual, who were concentrated around the Old-New Synagogue. These two Jewish settlements were separated by a part of the Old Town and the Church of the Holy Spirit.
A statue of Franz Kafka has recently been erected in front of the Spanish Synagogue.
The group of Spanish Jews used the synagogue in this location for several years before leaving to join their fellow-countrymen in Holland. Later on the synagogue survived several fires and was reconstructed a number of times. In 1836 it became a reformed synagogue and an organ was installed in it. František Škroup, the composer of the song “Kde domov můj” (Where is my home), the hymn of the Czech Republic, became the first organist and choirmaster here and worked here until 1845. The present day synagogue was designed by J. Niklas in 1882 in Moorish-Renaissance style with a large cupola. The interior is decorated with gilded and highly ornamental stucco work imitating Spanish interiors from Alhambra. The Spanish Synagogue is home to a permanent exhibition devoted to the history of Czech Jews from the 18th to the 20th century.
Dušní Street and the area surrounding the Spanish Synagogue used to be the oldest settlement and centre of the eastern Jews, as opposed to the Jews of the western ritual, who were concentrated around the Old-New Synagogue. These two Jewish settlements were separated by a part of the Old Town and the Church of the Holy Spirit.
A statue of Franz Kafka has recently been erected in front of the Spanish Synagogue.
OPENING HOURS
Winter opening times 9 am - 4.30 pm
Summer opening times 9 am - 6 pm
The museum is open every day except Saturdays and Jewish holidays.
Summer opening times 9 am - 6 pm
The museum is open every day except Saturdays and Jewish holidays.
May
24
Current Conditions : 17.3C, Clear 9:35PM CEST
Temperature: 17.3°C
Conditions: Clear
Wind Speed: 2.6km/h
Wind Direction: NNE
Temperature: 17.3°C
Conditions: Clear
Wind Speed: 2.6km/h
Wind Direction: NNE
