synagogue

The Synagogue of Bern is the main Jewish house of worship in the Swiss capital, standing at Kapellenstrasse 2 in the Monbijou district, close to the city centre. Its Moorish-Oriental design is unique among Bern's religious buildings, and it serves as the home of the Jewish Community of Bern (Jüdische Gemeinde Bern).

What makes Bern's synagogue special?

Bern's present Jewish community dates to 1848, when Jews from Alsace settled in the city; it was first known as the Israelitische Korporation. From 1855 until 1906 the congregation worshipped in a synagogue in the upper Old Town, around today's Genfergasse 11. As the community grew, including newcomers from Eastern Europe (roughly 1,000 Jews lived in the area around 1910), it needed a larger building.

The new synagogue went up in 1905–1906, designed by Eduard Rybi together with his son of the same name. Bern's heritage inventory calls it a valuable building and one of a kind in the city, noting its colourfulness and an unusual architectural vocabulary with clear Oriental influences. Features of the facade include a gable, a round window and a crenellated-looking roofline.

What stands next to it?

A newer annex on the west side, built in 1969–1971 to a design by Alfred Bürki, replaced the old community house, which was demolished in 1969. Its concrete-grid facade contrasts sharply with the colourful older sanctuary. Today the complex works as both synagogue and community centre.

How do I get to Kapellenstrasse 2?

The synagogue is in Monbijou, a short walk or tram/bus ride from the railway station and the centre (coordinates roughly 46.944 N, 7.438 E). The address is Kapellenstrasse 2, 3011 Bern.

Can I visit the interior?

It is an active place of worship, so interior visits depend on arrangement with the community. Check jgb.ch or call +41 31 381 49 92 before you go to ask about access and security rules. The exterior can be admired from the street at any time.

Frequently asked questions

When was Bern's synagogue built? In 1905–1906; some sources give 1906 as the opening year.

Who designed it? Eduard Rybi with his son. The western annex of 1969–1971 is the work of Alfred Bürki.

What style is the building? Moorish-Oriental, which in Bern appears nowhere else, although similar styles occur in other Swiss synagogues.

Where was the earlier synagogue? In the upper Old Town, around Genfergasse 11, from 1855 to 1906.