Synagogue in Český Krumlov

The Synagogue in Český Krumlov is a modest but architecturally remarkable sacred building, raised by the town's Jewish community in the early twentieth century. Although it stopped serving religious purposes decades ago, its story traces the fate of Český Krumlov's Jewish population — from the first settlers in the Middle Ages, through a brief flourishing around the turn of the century, to the tragedy of the Second World War and the slow return of the building to public life after 1989.

When was the synagogue built, and who designed it?

Construction ran from 1908 to 1909, based on a design by architect Viktor Kafka, who combined Neo-Romanesque forms with Art Nouveau detailing, giving the building a distinctive silhouette compared to other sacred structures in the region. Notably, it was built using reinforced concrete, making it one of the earliest structures of its kind anywhere in Austria-Hungary. The project was funded by Ludwig Spiro, a former rabbinical student who had made his fortune as a paper mill owner, together with a group of other well-off Jewish businessmen from the area.

How long did Jews live in Český Krumlov?

Jewish presence in the town is documented as early as the fourteenth century. King John of Luxembourg allowed four Jewish families to settle there, and his son Charles IV extended that permission to six families. In 1494, however, all Jews were expelled from the town, and the ban on settlement remained in force until the eighteenth century, when individual families were gradually allowed back under specific conditions. The community only truly flourished around the turn of the twentieth century — within thirty years of the synagogue's opening, the size of the local Jewish community had doubled.

What happened to the building after 1938?

The synagogue served religious purposes until 1938. After the annexation of the Sudetenland by Nazi Germany, its interior was devastated, and over the following decades the building was put to uses far removed from its original purpose — among them an aircraft modeling workshop, a house of worship for the Czechoslovak Hussite Church, and a storage space for stage scenery belonging to the castle's Baroque Theatre. Only in the 1990s was the building returned to the Jewish Religious Community of Prague, opening the way for its gradual restoration.

What does the synagogue look like today?

Following years of neglect, the building underwent a thorough renovation over the following decades, culminating in a comprehensive reconstruction completed in 2012. Today, the former synagogue functions as a cultural and exhibition space, hosting exhibitions, concerts and community events, while its distinctive eight-sided tower remains one of the recognizable architectural landmarks of the town.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the synagogue in Český Krumlov located? It stands in the historic part of the town, in the Český Krumlov region of South Bohemia.

Is the synagogue still used for religious services? No, it has not held services since 1938 and now operates as a cultural venue for exhibitions and events.

Who designed the building? Architect Viktor Kafka, blending Neo-Romanesque style with Art Nouveau elements.

What makes this synagogue architecturally significant? It was one of the first buildings in Austria-Hungary built with a reinforced concrete structure.

Who owns the building today? Since the 1990s, it has belonged to the Jewish Religious Community of Prague.