Synagogue Chasseloup-Laubat

The Chasseloup-Laubat Synagogue stands on the street of the same name in the Necker quarter of Paris's 15th arrondissement. It ranks among the last houses of worship built in France during what architectural historians call the "golden age" of French synagogues, a period when Jewish communities raised grand prayer halls in the heart of major cities. Despite its quiet, residential setting, the building carries a history — and a present-day role — that sets it apart from most of the capital's other synagogues: since 2009 it has served as the official military synagogue for the French armed forces.

What is the story behind the building?

The land was purchased in two stages, in May and November 1910, and a building permit followed on 26 September 1912. The synagogue itself was consecrated on 29 September 1913. The design came from architect Lucien Bechmann, and the project's principal backer was Baron Edmond de Rothschild, one of the era's leading patrons of Jewish religious and communal life in France. Construction costs reached 396,000 francs, a substantial sum at the time. The synagogue falls under the Central Consistory of the Jews of France and holds Orthodox services. On 24 November 2011 the building was listed as a Monument Historique under the "20th-century heritage" category, formally recognizing its architectural and historical value.

What will you see inside and around it?

Visitors enter through a courtyard rather than directly off the street — an unusual arrangement for synagogues of this period, which typically presented an open façade. The exterior combines beige brick with white stone accents in a Byzantine Revival style, punctuated by eight-sided rosette windows filled with colored stained glass. The interior is built around a square prayer hall topped by a small cupola roughly 15 metres above the floor, with a timber frame and slender wooden posts carrying a women's gallery that runs along three sides of the room. At the far end stands a wooden Torah ark decorated with a Star of David in bas-relief, with the wooden Ten Commandments mounted above it. The bimah, unusually, sits directly in front of the ark rather than in the centre of the hall. Custom-designed light fixtures and recurring Star of David motifs complete the interior, alongside further stained glass in the arched windows.

When should you visit, and how?

The Chasseloup-Laubat Synagogue remains an active place of worship, and since May 2009 it has additionally functioned as the military synagogue serving Jewish members of the French armed forces. As a result, access for outside visitors is limited and easiest during services or during the annual Journées du Patrimoine (Heritage Days), when protected religious buildings across France open their doors to the public. Because of its dual religious and military role, it's worth checking current visiting arrangements and any security procedures before planning a trip. The surrounding Necker quarter is a calm, largely residential corner of the 15th arrondissement, well suited to a quiet walk away from the crowds found in more heavily touristed parts of Paris.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the synagogue located? At 14 rue Chasseloup-Laubat, in the Necker quarter of Paris's 15th arrondissement.

Who designed the building, and who paid for it? Architect Lucien Bechmann designed it, and the construction was financed principally by Baron Edmond de Rothschild.

What makes this synagogue different from other Paris synagogues? Since 2009 it has served as the official military synagogue for the French armed forces, and since 2011 it has been protected as a 20th-century heritage monument.

Can the interior be visited? Access is limited because the building is an active place of worship with a military role; services and Heritage Days offer the best opportunities to see the interior.