Smíchov Synagogue

The Smíchov Synagogue is a historic house of prayer in Prague's Smíchov district, one of the surviving markers of the city's Jewish architectural heritage.

Where is the synagogue located?

The building stands in Smíchov, a district on the left bank of the Vltava River, south of Prague's historic core. Its coordinates are 50.071778, 14.402978 — an area well connected to the city center, making it an easy addition to an itinerary for visitors who want to step beyond the more heavily visited Old Town and Josefov.

When was it built, and what did it originally look like?

Construction dates to 1863. The original design followed a Moorish-neo-Romanesque style, a blend of Andalusian-inspired ornamentation with Romanesque forms that was a common architectural choice for synagogues across Central Europe in the second half of the 19th century. This aesthetic was meant to signal the distinct cultural identity of Jewish communities while also following the architectural fashions of the era.

Why does the building look different from its 19th-century appearance?

In 1931 the synagogue underwent a major reconstruction designed by architect Leopold Ehrmann. The renovation gave the building a new, monumentalist character, moving away from the decorative, orientalizing look of the original structure toward a bolder, more austere form. Such updates were common at the time, as Jewish communities modernized their religious buildings to match changing tastes and the needs of growing congregations.

What makes this synagogue worth knowing about for visitors?

The building offers an interesting case of a single structure carrying visible traces of two distinct architectural periods — 19th-century historicism and interwar monumentalism. For anyone interested in the history of Jewish Prague, it broadens the picture beyond the well-trodden routes of Josefov, showing that Jewish religious and cultural life extended into working and residential districts like Smíchov, not just the central Jewish Quarter.

Frequently asked questions

When was the Smíchov Synagogue built? It was built in 1863.

What architectural style did the synagogue originally have? It was built in a Moorish-neo-Romanesque style, combining oriental motifs with Romanesque forms.

Who designed the 1931 reconstruction? Architect Leopold Ehrmann designed the reconstruction, giving the building its current monumentalist appearance.

Where in Prague is the synagogue located? In the Smíchov district, on the left bank of the Vltava, south of the historic city center.