Synagogue in Mikulov

The Upper Synagogue in Mikulov is one of the most remarkable surviving pieces of Jewish heritage in Moravia — a Baroque house of prayer on Husova Street whose architecture has no equal anywhere else in the Czech Republic.

A history spanning nearly five centuries

The synagogue was first built in 1550, serving what was then one of the largest and most influential Jewish communities in Central Europe. Mikulov's Jewish quarter grew into a major center of learning and trade, and the Upper Synagogue — also known by its historic name "Altschul" — stood at its heart. The building was enlarged in 1689 to accommodate the growing community, before a devastating fire forced a full reconstruction between 1719 and 1723. That rebuilding, likely overseen by architect Ch. A. Oedyl, gave the synagogue the Baroque form visitors see today. Centuries later, between 1977 and 1989, a thorough restoration secured the fragile interior decoration for future generations.

What makes the interior unique?

Step inside and you'll find an architectural layout found nowhere else among Czech synagogues. The Upper Synagogue follows the so-called Polish-Lviv type of synagogue design, a tradition rooted in the former Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and closely tied to Ashkenazi communal life — Mikulov's building is the only surviving example of this style on Czech territory. The 1719–1723 reconstruction crowned the prayer hall with four domes and centered it around a four-columned bimah, the raised platform from which the Torah was read, supported on pillars set in the middle of the room. Above it all runs a stucco ceiling decorated with Hebrew inscriptions, a combination of fine plasterwork and sacred text that gives the space its distinctive character.

How to get there?

The synagogue stands at Husova 13, right in the middle of Mikulov's historic Jewish quarter, just a short walk from the main square and the castle that overlooks the town. Mikulov is easiest to reach by car or bus, sitting on the route between Brno and the Austrian border, roughly an hour's drive from Brno. Once in town, a walk through the narrow lanes of the old Jewish district leads straight to the synagogue's door.

When to visit?

Spring, summer, and early autumn are the best times to come, when Mikulov and the surrounding vineyard hills look their most attractive and opening hours for local sights tend to be longest. Combining a visit to the synagogue with a walk through the rest of the Jewish quarter and a stop at the castle above town makes for a full day of sightseeing.

Frequently asked questions

Why is the synagogue called "Altschul"? It's a historic Yiddish-German name meaning "old school/synagogue," traditionally used for a community's oldest, original house of prayer to distinguish it from newer synagogues built later in the same town.

What is the Polish-Lviv style in synagogue architecture? It's a synagogue design tradition that developed in the former Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, around the Lviv region, marked by a particular layout of the prayer hall and bimah. The Upper Synagogue in Mikulov is the only preserved example of this style in the Czech Republic.

Can visitors go inside the synagogue? The building operates as a preserved piece of Jewish heritage open to visitors — it's worth checking current opening hours before a visit, since they can vary by season.

How old is the building? The original synagogue dates back to 1550, making it more than 470 years old, though the Baroque appearance seen today comes from the reconstruction carried out after the 1719–1723 fire.