Synagogue in Hranice (Přerov District)

The Synagogue in Hranice (Hranice na Moravě, Přerov District) stands as one of the most telling remnants of Jewish life in central Moravia. Located on today's Janáčkova street, once the heart of the town's Jewish quarter, the building has served as an art gallery since the 1990s.

How did the Jewish community in Hranice begin?

Jewish settlers first arrived in Hranice in the early 17th century. In 1637, local authorities confirmed the community's right to a self-governing Jewish quarter, capping residency at 120 families, clustered along what is now Janáčkova street (formerly Židovská, "Jewish," street). The community grew steadily: by 1728 it counted 115 families, and by the end of the 18th century it had reached the legal maximum of 120. Its population peaked in 1857 at 802 people, roughly 13 percent of the entire town's inhabitants. A Jewish school, teaching in German, had opened around 1770 and served the community for generations.

What stood here before the current building?

A wooden synagogue occupied the site long before the present structure, first recorded in 1629. It was repaired after the destruction of the Thirty Years' War, and in 1720 a stone building of the same dimensions replaced it, seating 50 men and 45 women. As the community grew, space became a persistent problem: a request to enlarge the synagogue in 1836 was turned down by the authorities, leaving the building cramped for decades afterward.

Why does the synagogue face east instead of Jerusalem?

The current synagogue was built in 1863–1864 to a design by the Vienna architect Franz Macher, in the Moorish-Byzantine style favored for synagogue architecture across Central Europe at the time. One unusual detail sets it apart: rather than facing Jerusalem, as tradition dictates, the building is oriented east. The tight urban layout along Janáčkova street, hemmed in by neighboring buildings, left the architect no other option.

What happened to the synagogue during World War II?

Religious services continued here until 1940. The following year, the Nazi occupiers banned worship outright, gutted the interior, and turned the building into a furniture warehouse. On 22 June 1942, most of Hranice's Jewish residents were deported to Olomouc, and from there to the Theresienstadt ghetto and ultimately to Auschwitz, where they perished. Ironically, the building's wartime repurposing as a municipal museum from 1943 onward is likely what spared it from a planned demolition.

What is the synagogue used for today?

In 1993, the town of Hranice reached an agreement with the Jewish community for free use of the building over thirty years, in exchange for committing to a costly restoration. The renovation was completed by the mid-1990s, and the building reopened as an art gallery known today as Galerie Synagoga. It now blends its layered history with an active cultural role, regularly hosting temporary exhibitions.

How do you get there?

The synagogue sits in the center of Hranice na Moravě, on Janáčkova street, within easy walking distance of the main square and the railway station. It makes a natural stop on a walk through the old town, easily combined with a visit to Hranice Castle nearby.

Frequently asked questions

When was the current synagogue in Hranice built? It was constructed in 1863–1864, designed by the Vienna architect Franz Macher.

What architectural style is it built in? It follows the Moorish-Byzantine style, common in 19th-century synagogue architecture throughout Central Europe.

Why isn't the synagogue oriented toward Jerusalem? The tight plot along Janáčkova street, boxed in by surrounding buildings, forced the architect to orient the structure east instead of the traditional direction toward Jerusalem.

Can visitors see the synagogue today? Yes. Following its post-war conversion and a 1990s restoration, the building now operates as an art gallery open to the public, with a regular program of temporary exhibitions.