Sofia Synagogue, Sofia

The Sofia Synagogue serves the spiritual needs of Sofia’s Sephardic Jewish community, being the largest synagogue in Southeastern Europe and one of only two still operating in Bulgaria. Designed by the Austrian architect Friedrich Grünanger, it opened in 1909 in the presence of Tsar Ferdinand I of Bulgaria.

Its design was inspired by the Moorish-style Leopoldstadt Temple of Vienna and was built on the site of an earlier synagogue. The new building formed part of a broader effort to reorganize and modernize Bulgaria’s Jewish community at the start of the 20th century. It can accommodate up to 1,300 worshippers, and its central chandelier weighs nearly two tons.

In reality, attendance rarely fills the space. Although the synagogue stands within Sofia’s so-called “Square of Tolerance”, Bulgaria’s historical record of tolerance has been complicated, and most of the country’s Jews eventually emigrated to Israel.

Architecturally, the Sofia Synagogue is a fine example of Moorish Revival style, blended with influences from the Vienna Secession art movement. Venetian elements appear on the façade, while the structure is crowned by an octagonal dome. Inside, visitors can admire Carrara marble columns, Venetian mosaics, and carved wooden details.

Since 1992, the building has also housed the Jewish Museum of History, which documents the story of Jewish life in Bulgaria, including both the Holocaust period and the rescue of Bulgaria’s Jewish population. A small gift shop is also available for visitors.