Jewish Museum of Prague
Museum in Prague
The Jewish Museum of Prague stands as one of the most poignant and comprehensive repositories of Jewish history and culture in Europe. Founded in 1906 by Dr. Hugo Lieben and Dr. Augustin Stein, both esteemed members of Prague’s Jewish intellectual community, the museum was initially established to preserve sacred objects from synagogues being demolished during the redevelopment of the historic Jewish Quarter. What began as a local effort to safeguard cultural heritage would, tragically, take on even greater urgency in the years to come.
During the Nazi occupation in 1942, the museum’s role was transformed into that of a centralized repository for Jewish ceremonial art and artifacts collected from communities throughout Bohemia and Moravia. Ironically, while its very existence was a byproduct of destruction, the Jewish Museum became one of the few places where thousands of ritual objects, books, and cultural treasures were preserved. Although the Communist era allowed the museum to reopen, it wasn’t until the Velvet Revolution and the restoration of democracy in 1989 that the institution was truly revitalized—reclaiming its identity, expanding its exhibits, and resuming its role as a vital cultural and educational center.
Today, the museum is not a single building, but a network of historical sites spread across Prague’s Jewish Quarter. A standard admission includes entry to several former synagogues—each now home to a different thematic exhibition—as well as the evocative Old Jewish Cemetery and the Ceremonial Hall. The Pinkas Synagogue, for instance, serves as a moving memorial to the Czech victims of the Holocaust, while the Klausen Synagogue explores Jewish traditions and customs. The Spanish Synagogue, with its Moorish Revival architecture, focuses on modern Jewish history. The Old-New Synagogue, the oldest still-functioning synagogue in Europe, requires a separate ticket but can be included as part of a comprehensive Prague Jewish Town pass.
Tips:
Plan your visit during quieter times—early in the morning or later in the afternoon—to better appreciate the reflective and often emotional atmosphere. If you’re short on time or wish to explore in greater depth, your ticket allows a return visit the next day. With so many layers of history and meaning contained within each space, the Jewish Museum of Prague offers an experience that is as moving as it is enlightening.
The Jewish Museum of Prague appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Prague!
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Visiting Jewish Museum of Prague
Nearby Attractions
- Old Jewish Cemetery, Prague (0.1) km
Cemetery in Prague - High Synagogue, Prague (0.1) km
Synagogue in Prague - Old-New Synagogue, Prague (0.1) km
Synagogue in Prague - Klausen Synagogue (0.1) km
Synagogue in Prague - Pinkas Synagogue - Holocaust Memorial (0.1) km
Monument in Prague - Ceremonial Hall, Prague (0.1) km
Historic Building in Prague - Maisel Synagogue (0.1) km
Synagogue in Prague - Museum of Decorative Arts, Prague (0.2) km
Museum in Prague - Spanish Synagogue, Prague (0.2) km
Synagogue in Prague - Jan Palach Square (0.2) km
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