Information
Landmark: Jewish Quarter (Josefov)City: Prague
Country: Czech Republic
Continent: Europe
Jewish Quarter (Josefov), Prague, Czech Republic, Europe
Overview
The Jewish Quarter, or Josefov, sits at the heart of Prague, rich with centuries of history and cobblestone streets that echo with stories.You’ll find it in the heart of the city, a short walk north of Old Town Square where the cobblestones shine after rain.For more than a thousand years, the Jewish community has called this part of Prague home, and today its narrow lanes and old stone walls still speak of the deep cultural and historical roots of Czech Jewry.Josefov is a historic district and a key part of Jewish heritage, marked by its deep ties to World War II and the Holocaust, where cobbled streets still echo with the past.The Jewish Quarter took shape in the 13th century, when King Wenceslas I welcomed Jewish families to settle there, their homes lining narrow cobblestone streets.Over the years, it blossomed into one of the Czech lands’ most prominent Jewish communities, alive with music, shared stories, and a culture all its own.Jews had lived in Prague for centuries, but it wasn’t until the 13th century that they were officially allowed to settle in the area that would one day be called Josefov, where narrow lanes wound between wooden houses.The area began as a ghetto where Jews were forced to live, yet it pulsed with religious devotion and lively debates over sacred texts.In the 16th century, under Emperor Rudolph II’s rule, the Jewish Quarter buzzed with scholars debating ideas late into the night.Rabbi Loew-legend says he shaped the Golem, a clay figure from Jewish folklore-lived and worked in the district then, his study lit by the flicker of a single candle.19th Century: In the mid-1800s, Emperor Joseph II ordered the old ghetto’s crumbling buildings torn down, replacing narrow, dim alleys with modern streets to improve life for the Jewish community and grant them greater civic rights.During the modernization, the district took on its present name-Josefov-in honor of Emperor Joseph II.World War II and the Holocaust: Under Nazi occupation, Prague’s Jewish community suffered deeply-families vanished, and shop windows once filled with bread stood empty.safeAgainst the odds, most of the Josefov district made it through the war almost untouched, in part because the Nazis intended to turn it into what they chillingly called a “museum of an extinct race.”Today, the Jewish Museum in Prague holds a remarkable collection of artifacts from this dark chapter in history, including a child’s worn leather shoe.Top sights in the Jewish Quarter, like the old stone synagogue and bustling market stalls.The Old-New Synagogue (Staronová synagoga) stands as Europe’s oldest synagogue still in use, its dark stone walls anchoring one of Josefov’s most treasured landmarks.It was built in 1270, its arches and spires showing the sharp lines of early Gothic design.The synagogue features striking Gothic design, with tall pointed arches and slim windows that let in narrow beams of light.The name “Old-New” comes from its age-it’s one of the oldest synagogues-and from the fact that it’s still in use today.More than a place of worship, the Old-New Synagogue stands as a cornerstone in the story of Prague’s Jewish community, its dark stone walls holding centuries of memory.It’s tied to the old legend of the Golem, the clay figure Rabbi Loew is said to have brought to life.In Jewish folklore, the Golem was a man-shaped creature fashioned to guard the community from persecution, its body said to be molded from clay.The Jewish Museum in Prague, home to centuries-old Torah scrolls and ritual objects, ranks among the most important Jewish museums in the world.It’s devoted to keeping the history and culture of the Jewish community in the Czech lands alive, from old prayer books with worn leather covers to stories passed down through generations.The museum holds a rich collection of Jewish religious artifacts, along with historical documents, faded photographs, and well-worn books.Many of the items survived the Holocaust, turning the museum into a vital cultural archive for Jews and non-Jews alike, with exhibitions ranging from the history of the Jewish community in the Czech Republic to the Holocaust and the traditions of Jewish life, and just down the street stands the Spanish Synagogue - a stunning Moorish Revival gem built in the late 19th century, its ornate arches glowing softly in the afternoon light.Among Prague’s synagogues, this one stands out for its breathtaking design, from the carved stone arches to the light spilling through its stained-glass windows.The interior of the Spanish Synagogue bursts with Islamic-inspired patterns, while its walls gleam with intricate gold, deep blue, and warm red designs.The Spanish Synagogue, one of Prague’s most beautiful Moorish-style buildings, now forms part of the Jewish Museum, where you can wander past exhibits on Jewish life in Bohemia and the city’s 16th‑century Golden Age.Nearby, the Pinkas Synagogue stands in quiet remembrance, its walls inscribed with the names of Holocaust victims.safeThe Old Jewish Cemetery, founded in 1439, holds more than 12,000 graves, their weathered stones leaning in the quiet shade.Because space here is scarce, the graves rise in uneven layers, stone upon stone, giving the cemetery a haunting beauty; among them rests the tomb of Rabbi Loew, the legendary figure said to have shaped the Golem.Many Jewish visitors make pilgrimages to the grave, leaving small stones on its edge, while the Klausen Synagogue-an 18th-century Baroque landmark-stands nearby as another key site in the Jewish Quarter.It was first built for prayer services, where candles once flickered in the quiet, and now it’s part of the Jewish Museum.The synagogue is famous for its baroque design and a striking wooden ceiling polished to a warm glow.Inside, visitors explore exhibitions on the history of Jewish life in Prague and see a collection of ceremonial objects.The Ceremonial Hall, part of the Jewish Cemetery complex, once served as the site for burial rites in the city’s Jewish community.The hall’s neo-Renaissance design stands out, offering visitors a place to explore the rituals of Jewish funerary traditions, from the layout of the bier to the carved stonework above the door.The Jewish Quarter of Prague isn’t just a stop on a sightseeing map-it’s a living record of the community’s vibrant heritage and its heartbreaking past.The quarter holds historic synagogues, quiet cemeteries, and solemn memorials, each a reminder of the Jewish community’s role in Czech culture and the deep loss endured during the Holocaust.In Josefov today, a lively Jewish community gathers to mark traditions and festivals, from the candlelit glow of Hanukkah to the shared meals of Passover and Ro.
