Old Synagogue, Krakow
Exterior of the 16th-century Old Synagogue. Photo by ozziebackpacker.
Star of David on a gate to the courtyard. Photo © Zuzana Bohackova.
Exterior and parking at the Old Synagogue. Photo © Zuzana Bohackova.
Another side of the Old Synagogue. Photo by Gary A.K.
Synagogue courtyard. Photo © Zuzana Bohackova.
The Old Synagogue as it looked before World War II. Public domain.
Interior of the synagogue, now a museum. Photo by hugovk.
The Old Synagogue (Stara Boznica) in Krakow is the oldest surviving synagogue in Poland. Badly looted during World War II, it now houses a Jewish Museum.
History
The Old Synagogue was founded in the 15th century and remodeled many times. The present building dates from 1557, when it was rebuilt after a fire.
It was in this synagogue in 1775 that Tadeusz Kosciuszko encouraged the Jewish community to join in the national insurrection for the freedom of Poland. (He also supported the American War of Independence.)
During World War II, the Nazis used the synagogue as a warehouse and most of its artwork and Jewish relics were looted. They also executed 30 Polish hostages at its wall in 1943.
The Old Synagogue was restored in 1955-1957and opened as a Jewish museum in 1961.
What to See
Today the Old Synagogue houses the Museum of the History and Culture of Kraków Jews.
The museum's collection includes liturgical objects, ancient Torah scrolls, textiles, dishes, utensils and shofars, along with photographs, documents and artwork documenting the history of the Jews of Cracow.
In the plaza in front of the synagogue is a monument to 30 Poles shot by the Nazis here in 1943.
Quick Facts
| Names: | Stara Boznica; Stara Synagoga; Old Synagogue |
| Type of site: | Synagogue |
| Faith: | Jewish |
| Status: | Museum |
| Dates: | 1557 |
| Architecture: | Renaissance |
| Location: | Szeroka 24, Kazimierz, Poland |
| Phone: | 012/422-09-62 |
| Hours: | Wed-Thu, Sat-Sun 9-3, Fri 11-6. Closed on the first weekend of the month. |
| Cost: | zl 7 |
Location Map
Location map and satellite view of the Old Synagogue in Krakow. Using the buttons on the left, zoom in for a closer look or zoom out to get your bearings. Click and drag the map to move around. For a larger view, see our Krakow Map or get our free Google Earth download.
Sources
- Frommer's Eastern Europe, 1st ed. (April 2007).
- Fodor's Poland, 1st. ed. (May 2007).
- Virtual Jewish History Tour: Cracow - Jewish Virtual Library
- Synagogues of the Kazimierz district - Krakow Info
