Tempel Synagogue (Synagoga Tempel), Krakow

The Tempel Synagogue stands out as a vivid chapter in the city’s Jewish-life story, blending faith, architectural ambition, and cultural renewal under one roof. Built between 1860 and 1862 on Miodowa Street in the historic district of Kazimierz, it was designed in a style that mixes Moorish Revival and Renaissance Revival influences.

At the time, the synagogue served a Reform (or Progressive) Jewish congregation — a community open to cultural adaptation and liturgical innovation. Services included sermons in Polish and German, choirs (sometimes with women singing), and other elements that more conservative Orthodox communities rejected.

The building itself is distinctive: a central hall rises between lower side aisles, and the interior is richly decorated with polychrome paintings, gold leaf, and unusually colourful stained-glass windows. The windows — 36 in total — are among the best preserved of their kind in Poland.

As the synagogue is quite compact, its highlights can be easily observed. A white marble Torah ark sits in the eastern apse, visible as the furthest point from the entrance when you step inside. The ark’s marble structure and golden dome make it conspicuous, yet it blends seamlessly with the surrounding intricate ceiling and balcony designs. Speaking of the latter, two balconies frame the main hall, known collectively as the Women’s Gallery. As the name suggests, these balconies were designated for women and are embellished with floral motifs and decorative ironwork. Overall, the synagogue exudes a sense of regal grandeur, reminiscent of those in other European centres such as Budapest or Vienna.

During the Second World War, the synagogue suffered under German occupation: the building was repurposed as storage for ammunition and animals, and its religious function was suppressed. After the war, it gradually returned to use — a ritual bath was added in 1947, and although regular services continued for a time, they largely ceased after the 1980s.

Between 1995 and 2000, the synagogue underwent a thorough renovation, restoring both its exterior and interior. Today it remains a protected historical monument and an active venue for cultural events — concerts, gatherings, and especially programmes linked to the annual Jewish Culture Festival in Kraków.