Great Synagogue (Plzeň)

The Great Synagogue in Pilsen is Europe's second largest synagogue (after the Great Synagogue in Budapest) and the third largest in the world. It was designed by architect Emanuel Klotz in the Moorish- Romanesque style. Foundation stone was laid in December 1888 to 1893, construction was completed.

The original plans of architect Max Fleischer were rejected by the city council. The reason was, inter alia, to a massive appearance against the standing on the Main Market St. Bartholomew's Cathedral. Klotz kept the layout and the overall design and especially the revised exterior design. So the towers were about 20 m run lower than originally planned. The building contains elements in Romanesque style and Neo-Renaissance. The jewelry is often kept in an oriental style.

During World War II the synagogue was used as a warehouse and so survived the events. After the war she was returned to the decimated Jewish community. In the communist era, the already dilapidated building was closed, the last regular service was held in 1973. After the Velvet Revolution in 1989, the Jewish community does not have enough funds for the necessary maintenance, so that the building continued to decay. Between 1995 and 1998, the synagogue was finally fully restored at great expense. Today the building is used for cultural events and can be visited.