
High Synagogue, Prague
The High Synagogue of the Jewish Quarter was built in 1568. Its construction was financed by Mordechai Maisel, a philanthropist and one of the richest men in Prague at the time.
Built next to the Jewish Town Hall, the synagogue was a place of preaching for the councillors of the Town Hall and also where the Rabbinic Court was held. The name “High” came about from the fact that the prayer hall is located on the 1st floor of the building.
In 1689, the synagogue was destroyed in the Great Fire but was carefully restored along with the original ribbed vault with its eight-pointed star. In 1883 the building was renovated and received the rather simplistic façade that it has today.
During the Nazi and Communist rule the synagogue was used by the Jewish Museum to display Torah textiles, silver ceremonial tools and ancient Hebrew books. After the fall of Communism, a bookshop opened and sold books about the Holocaust.
As of 1997 the synagogue has been reinstated as a place of worship for Prague citizens and foreigners, and is no longer open to tourists.
Built next to the Jewish Town Hall, the synagogue was a place of preaching for the councillors of the Town Hall and also where the Rabbinic Court was held. The name “High” came about from the fact that the prayer hall is located on the 1st floor of the building.
In 1689, the synagogue was destroyed in the Great Fire but was carefully restored along with the original ribbed vault with its eight-pointed star. In 1883 the building was renovated and received the rather simplistic façade that it has today.
During the Nazi and Communist rule the synagogue was used by the Jewish Museum to display Torah textiles, silver ceremonial tools and ancient Hebrew books. After the fall of Communism, a bookshop opened and sold books about the Holocaust.
As of 1997 the synagogue has been reinstated as a place of worship for Prague citizens and foreigners, and is no longer open to tourists.
Sight description based on Wikipedia.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Prague. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from iTunes App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
High Synagogue on Map
Sight Name: High Synagogue
Sight Location: Prague, Czech Republic (See walking tours in Prague)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Prague, Czech Republic (See walking tours in Prague)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Prague, Czech Republic
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Travel Distance: 3.6 Km or 2.2 Miles
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Travel Distance: 3.1 Km or 1.9 Miles
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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles
The area was once separated from the outside world by a semi-circular moat and a wall, hugged by the Vltava river. The moat is now covered up by streets, which form the official boundary of the Old Town. One of them, called Na Příkopě (literally “On the... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles
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It would be a pity to leave Prague without having explored its specialty shops and bringing home something truly original. We've compiled a list of gifts and souvenirs, which are unique to Prague, that a visitor might like to purchase to reflect their visit.
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
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