Jews lived in Prague territory from the 10th century. During the 12th century, they started to settle on the right bank of the Vltava River, near Charles Bridge, where the future Jewish Town was to emerge. In 1850, the Jewish Town was joined to Prague as its fifth quarter, called Josefov. Its present condition was essentially influenced by the extensive renovation resulting in the demolition of whole blocks of houses, and the subsequent development. Only the Jewish town hall, six synagogues and a cemetery have been preserved from the original town quarter.

The Old-New Synagogue (Staronová synagoga)

The Old-New Synagogue is the most precious monument of the Prague Ghetto, one of oldest preserved synagogues in Europe and one of the most valuable works of early Gothic art in Prague. The two-nave hall was built between 1275-80. Outer brick gables date to the 14th century; the building is surrounded by annexes from the 14th– 17th centuries.

The Jewish Town Hall (Židovská radnice)

A 16th-century building designed by P.Roder. The present Rococo shape originates from 1763. Today the seat of Prague Jewish Community and a kosher restaurant.

High Synagogue (Vysoká synagoga)

Built in the latter half of the 16th century, the original Renaissance hall has survived.

Prague Jewish Museum (Pražské židovské muzeum)

Founded by the Prague Jewish Community in 1906. Owns vast collections, manages archives, a library and exhibitions in adjacent architectural monuments.

History of the museum
A major contribution to the establishment of the Jewish Museum in 1906 was made by historian Dr. Salomon Hugo Lieben and Dr. August Stein, the representative of the Czech Jewish movement and later head of the Prague Jewish Community. The original aim was to preserve valuable works of art from Prague synagogues that had been demolished during the renovation of the Jewish Quarter in the early 20th century.

The museum was closed March 15, 1939, following the occupation of Bohemia and Moravia. In 1942, the Nazis established the Central Jewish Museum to accumulate artefacts from all abolished Jewish communities and synagogues of Bohemia and Moravia. Its foundation was proposed by Dr. Karel Stein, who, in cooperation with other specialists, sought to save Jewish items threatened by the ongoing confiscations of Jewish property. Following long negotiations, the Nazis consented to the project. After World War II, the Jewish Museum came under the administration of the Council of Jewish Communities. In 1950, the ownership was – under pressure – transferred to the state, which was controlled by the communists. The activities of the State Jewish Museum, as it was called then, were considerably restricted, which hindered the institution from pursuing its research, exhibition and educational schemes. The collapse of the communist regime in 1989 created conditions necessary for a change in the museum’s status. On October 1, 1994, the museum buildings were returned to the Prague Jewish Community and the collections to the Federation of Jewish Communities in the Czech Republic. At the same time, the Jewish Museum of Prague came to exist as a non-state institution.

http://www.jewishmuseum.cz/

Klaus Synagogue (Klausova synagoga)

Baroque synagogue from 1694, remodeled in 1884. Exhibition of Jewish traditions and customs.

Maisel Synagogue (Maiselova synagoga)

The existing Neo-Gothic building from 1892-1905. Exhibition of Jewish History in Bohemia and Moravia - Part One.

Former Ceremonial Hall (Bývalá obřadní síň)

Pseudo-Romanesque building of the Prague Burial Society from 1906. Exposition of Jewish Traditions and Customs - Ways of Life.

Pinkas Synagogue (Pinkasova synagoga)

The original building of 1535 was enlarged in the late-Gothic style. Its walls bear the names of Czechoslovak victims of the Holocaust. An exhibition of children’s drawings from the Terezin concentration camp is situated on the upper floor.

Spanish Synagogue (Španělská synagoga)

Built on the site of Prague’s oldest synagogue, which was torn down in 1867. Ornamental stucco derives from Spanish and Moorish patterns. Exhibition of Jewish History in Bohemia and Moravia – Part Two.

Old Jewish Cemetery (Starý židovský hřbitov)

The famed Old Jewish Cemetery in Josefov was established in the first half of the 15th century.

Burials were performed there until 1787. It contains approximately 12,000 tombstones. One of the most notable graves is that of Abigdor Kar from 1439, the tomb of Mordechaj Maisel from 1601, and the tomb of the well-known Judah Löw from 1609. The symbols inscribed on the tombstones indicate the families of the buried, or their occupations.

Tags: Jewish Town, Prague, Židovské město