Old Synagogue, Kraków: beyond the brick frontage

A reason to pause here

The low forecourt and long brick wall give the Old Synagogue room to stand apart from the cafés nearby. We would go inside for the museum’s account of Jewish Kraków, not stop at the façade alone.

Rebuilding a community’s synagogue

The Old Synagogue dates from around the late fifteenth century. After a fire in the sixteenth century, Florentine architect Matteo Gucci rebuilt it with Renaissance elements while retaining its Gothic structure. It served the religious and administrative life of the Jewish community in Kazimierz.

German occupation brought extensive destruction, including damage to the vaults and columns. Restoration in the 1950s repaired the building. In 1959, the Jewish community entrusted it to the city museum for an exhibition on Jewish history and culture. It remains a Museum of Kraków branch.

Go beyond the forecourt

Our photographs begin with the low forecourt and the long brick wall. We would walk along that frontage, then allow a separate stretch of time for the museum. Displays about religious holidays and family life help explain what a visitor cannot learn by looking at the building alone.

Plan the visit

The museum is on Szeroka Street in Kazimierz. Check the Museum of Kraków’s current ticketing, closures and exhibition information before choosing a day. This is a museum visit; arrangements differ from those of the active Remuh Synagogue nearby. Ask the museum about step-free access if needed.