Spanish Synagogue, Prague

Czech name: Španělská synagoga

The Spanish Synagogue — Španělská synagoga in Czech — is a stunning architectural and design achievement. A Prague sightseeing gem in the city’s Jewish Quarter, the building now serves as both a place of worship and a museum.

The Cultural Significance of Czech Jewish Heritage: Exploring Prague’s Jewish Town

The Czech national anthem is a reflection of the country’s rich cultural heritage and history. In the 20th century, the country faced several challenges and changes, including the persecution of Jews in the Bohemian lands. Today, visitors to Prague can explore the Jewish Town, home to a vibrant and resilient Czech Jewish community. This historic district boasts several synagogues, including the oldest synagogue in Europe, dating back to the 13th century. Two notable Czech Jewish composers, Antonín Baum and Bedřich Münzberger, were also instrumental in preserving and promoting Jewish music and culture in the country. Their contributions have played a significant role in shaping the cultural identity of the Czech Republic and honoring the memory of the country’s Jewish community. Baum and Bedřich Münzberger‘s work remains influential to this day.

Location & How to Get To the Spanish Synagogue, Prague

The synagogue is at Vězeňská 1, 110 00 Staré Město, Czechia — on the corner of Dušní and Vězeňská Streets. The easiest way to get there is by taking the 194 bus and getting off at the Staré školy stop, which is right next to the complex.

Spanish Synagogue Prague Opening Hours & Entry

The Synagogue is currently closed because of extensive renovations. A re-opening date has yet to be announced.

However, barring the renovation, the Spanish Synagogue Prague opening hours are between 9:00 am and 4:30 pm every working day of the week, (Mondays to Fridays). However, from the 1st of January till the 29th of March and also from the 27th of October until the 31st of December, every year, it opens by 9:00 am and closes by 6:00 pm.

Spanish Synagogue Prague Ticket Price

Spanish Synagogue, Prague ticket price for admission into the Synagogue, Prague costs 350 CZK for adults, and about 250 CZK for children between the ages of 6 and 15.  The Spanish Synagogue Prague entrance fee is free however for children younger than the age of 6. Tickets can also be easily booked online on the Prague Ticket Office website.

Spanish Synagogue Classical Music Performance

Prague’s Spanish Synagogue, constructed in 1868, is famed for its stunning three-part front and ornate interior decorations, which feature colorful and gold-plated designs. Because of its excellent acoustics, the Spanish Synagogue is often utilized to host classical music performances.

So get your tickets now to witness classical, contemporary, and Jewish music performed in the magnificent Spanish Synagogue of Prague.

Highlights

• Listen to the top players from FOK Symphony Orchestra in Prague perform classical, contemporary, and Jewish music in the Synagogue.
• Experience a beautiful selection of music skillfully performed by the best musicians.
• Hear a wide range of classical music on any given day, from the greatest hits of Gershwin to the finest examples of the globe and Czech songs, as well as traditional Jewish tunes, Bolero, and Hallelujah. 
• Enjoy the works of well-known composers like Verdi, Rossini, Mozart, and Bach, along with great works by Czech composers, including Dvoák and Smetana from the 19th century.
• The concert lasts for a whole hour.
• You can get a complete refund if you cancel within 24 hours. 
• The doors to the synagogue open fifteen minutes before the commencement of the performance.
• Starting at € 38.59 per person
• The Moorish Revival stylish synagogue is a sight to behold. 
• Take in the stunning interior design and notice the visually striking Islamic motifs that adorn the walls, doors, and exhibition balustrades. 
• See the show in a venue with stunning architecture and excellent acoustics.

What is Included

• Admission Ticket
• The program is printed in English

What to Do & What to See at the Spanish Synagogue Prague, Czech Republic

he remarkable interior of the Prague Spanish Synagogue is adorned with stained glass windows. Elaborately decorated in the Moorish Revival style, the inside is a collage of symmetrical and intricate mosaics piped with tasteful goldwork and stucco arabesques. Moorish arches and Stars of David are recurring motifs throughout the structure.

Since the Spanish Synagogue Jewish museum in Prague manages the Spanish Synagogue, the building also houses a permanent exhibition exploring the modern history of Jews in the Czech Republic, starting with reforms instituted by the Hapsburg Emperor Joseph II and ending with the Holocaust.

History of the Spanish Synagogue Prague

Technically, the Spanish Synagogue is the newest Prague synagogue. However, the building stands where the oldest area temple — called Old School or Altshul — once stood. Why was it called Old School? Because in days of old, temples and synagogues were also used as schools. 

In 1867, the community opted to demolish the old building due to structural problems. By 1868, they’d replaced it with a new building — the one that stands today. František Škroup, the composer of the Czech national anthem, served as organist here in 1836-45.

Vojtěch Ignác Ullmann, an architect, and Josef Niklas, an interior designer, collaborated on the 1868 plans and paid particular attention to acoustics. The renovation also saw the contribution Jan Bělský. Additional rooms were added to the Synagogue, Prague in 1935, which served as a community hospital and storage facility during World War II. Years after the war, officials finally and rightfully turned the Synagogue back over to the Jewish community. It was once again restored around that time. 

But, the 1970s brought deterioration, and the Spanish Synagogue closed permanently in 1982. After the Velvet Revolution, funds flowed in, and the Spanish Synagogue Jewish museum in Prague plunged into renovations. A formal opening in 1998 proved to be a huge success. 

Behind the synagogue is a small park that houses a Franz Kafka statue. On the other side of the park sits the Church of the Holy Spirit, another popular Prague Sightseeing location.