A true architectural gem of Prague, the Jewish Quarter (Josefov) is one of the best preserved Jewish ghettos in Europe. Home to many synagogues and other remarkable sights, it traces the turbulent and tragic history of the Jewish people.
Jewish Quarter
Jewish heritage, synagogues and centuries of history
HIGHLIGHTS
- One of the world’s most impressive collections of Judaica
- Sadly evocative Old Jewish Cemetery dating back to the 1400s
- Old New Synagogue, keeping the dark mystery of Golem
- Beautiful Moorish motifs and stained glass of the Spanish Synagogue
- St. Agnes Convent with its breathtaking collection of Gothic wooden sculpture
Between the Vltava river and Old Town Square, you will find one of the most intriguing neighbourhoods of the historical Prague. Ever since the 11th century, it has been the place for isolating the Jewish population – not only the Jews from Bohemia, but also Moravia, Germany, Spain and some other countries.
This former ghetto is also known as Josefov, which commemorates the Holy Roman Emperor Josef II. In 1781, this ruler introduced a number of laws called the Tolerance Patent that granted religious equality to all Jews in Prague.
Sadly, the Jewish Quarter has seen many devastating “pogroms” mistreating the residents, as well as undergone several structural changes throughout its history. The latest occurred in 1893 – 1913, when a lot of buildings were demolished, but luckily the important landmarks survived.
Perhaps the most shocking fact about Josefov is that during WWII it actually grew wealthier - attempting to establish “the Museum of an Extinct Race”, the Nazis brought valuable related objects from other occupied countries to the ghetto in Prague. These collections are now displayed in the Jewish Museum, which is a unique complex of several great synagogues, a gallery, the Jewish Ceremonial Hall and the melancholically magical cemetery – all located within a comfortable walking distance from each other.
Exploring these charming lanes, you will discover the architectural and cultural traditions of Prague Jews and learn some of the most tragic facts in the 20th-century history related to Holocaust. Also, the Jewish Quarter is famous for being the birthplace of Kafka and keeping the mysterious secret of Golem – the ancient “Frankenstein” from Jewish folklore.