Synagogue in Kosova Hora

The Synagogue in Kosova Hora is a small Baroque religious building standing at house No. 131 in the village of Kosova Hora, part of a municipality that also includes Dohnalova Lhota, in the Příbram District of Central Bohemia. The current structure dates from 1741, built after an earlier synagogue on the site burned down. For nearly two centuries this modest brick building served as the main house of prayer for the local Jewish community.

Where did the local Jewish community come from?

Jewish settlement in the area around Kosova Hora goes back to the late 17th century, with the first records of a community dating to 1674. Over the following decades the community grew large enough to maintain its own house of prayer, and after the fire it was rebuilt in brick, in the Baroque style typical of the region. It followed the familiar pattern of small rural Jewish communities in Bohemia, centered on trade and craft.

How did the size of the community change over time?

Historical records show a clear decline from the late 19th century onward. By 1930 the community numbered only 32 people — a peak figure for that later period, but still far smaller than in earlier decades. The synagogue continued to function religiously until the 1920s, after which organized religious life in the community effectively ended, and the building gradually lost its original purpose.

What happened to the building after it stopped serving as a house of prayer?

For most of the 20th century the building no longer served a religious function and fell into disrepair, a fate shared by many small synagogues in the Czech countryside. The turning point came in 2007, when local residents founded a civic association, Synagoga Kosova Hora, with the goal of raising funds to restore the former prayer hall and to create a permanent exhibition on the history of the synagogue, the local Jewish community, and Jewish communities across the wider region.

What can visitors see at the synagogue today?

Following restoration work, the building was reopened to the public in 2011. Today it operates as a small cultural and educational center, hosting an exhibition on the history of the local Jewish community and on the broader Jewish presence in the Sedlčany region. It is managed by the civic association mentioned above, in cooperation with the Kosova Hora municipal office.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the synagogue located? In the village of Kosova Hora, at house No. 131, within a municipality that also includes Dohnalova Lhota, in the Příbram District.

When was the current building constructed? In 1741, after a fire destroyed the previous synagogue on the site.

Can the synagogue be visited? Yes, it is open to visitors year-round by prior phone arrangement. It is closed on Saturdays and on Jewish holidays.

Who manages the building today? The civic association Synagoga Kosova Hora, founded in 2007, working together with the municipal office.