High Synagogue, Prague
Synagogue in Prague
The High Synagogue, a refined example of Renaissance architecture in Prague’s Jewish Quarter, was commissioned in 1568 by Mordechai Maisel—one of the most influential Jewish figures in Bohemian history. A financier, philanthropist, and mayor of the Jewish community, Maisel funded this synagogue to serve as both a house of worship and a meeting place for the Rabbinic Court and Jewish Town Council. Its name, “High,” refers not to its status but to its physical elevation—its prayer hall is uniquely situated on the first floor above street level, a rarity at the time.
The building’s history has not been without hardship. Severely damaged during the Great Fire of 1689, the High Synagogue was painstakingly restored, preserving significant architectural features such as the ribbed vault ceiling with its symbolic eight-pointed star design. Another renovation in 1883 resulted in the more subdued façade seen today, but the building’s historical character and solemn dignity remain intact, subtly tucked beside the nearby Jewish Town Hall with its distinctive Hebrew clock.
During the Nazi occupation and later under the Communist regime, the synagogue no longer functioned as a place of prayer. Instead, it became an exhibition space operated by the Jewish Museum, used to display precious Torah textiles, silver ritual objects, and ancient manuscripts—remnants of a spiritual heritage that the regimes sought to suppress but could never erase. In the years that followed, the building also housed a small bookstore specializing in Holocaust literature and Jewish history.
Since 1997, the High Synagogue has once again resumed its original function as a house of prayer, now serving Prague’s Jewish community and international worshippers. While it is no longer open to general tourists, its quiet revival is a powerful symbol of continuity and faith. Those fortunate enough to enter will find exquisitely decorated Torah scrolls and ceremonial mantles that echo centuries of devotion, scholarship, and resilience. For those passing by, the building stands as a subtle yet enduring tribute to the spiritual life that has shaped the Jewish Quarter for centuries.
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Visiting High Synagogue, Prague
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Church in Prague
