Synagogue in Volyně

The Synagogue in Volyně is a Classicist-style building in the South Bohemian town of Volyně, in the Strakonice district, and one of the few synagogues in the Czech Republic built in the Empire style. Although it has not served a religious purpose for decades, its clock-topped facade still stands out in what used to be the town's Jewish quarter.

Where does the synagogue stand?

The building sits on today's Žižkova Street, once the main street of Volyně's Jewish ghetto. Jews had begun settling in this part of town — known as Hradčany — as early as the start of the 16th century; the first recorded resident was a man named Jakub, linked to the local muster of arms, who arrived around 1521. Over the following centuries the Jewish community gradually acquired property here, and access to the ghetto ran through a gate built into one of the houses — some of these passageways survive to this day.

When was the current building constructed?

The synagogue visible today was built between 1838 and 1840, on the site of an older house of prayer that had stood at the very center of the old ghetto. The building was renovated in 1890. It is considered the oldest surviving synagogue in the region fitted with a clock: above the entrance sits a triangular gable bearing a Hebrew inscription and a relief of lions holding a shield with a clock face. This detail makes the building an easily recognizable landmark on the town skyline.

What happened to the synagogue after the war?

Religious services continued in the building up until World War II. Afterward, it lost its original purpose entirely — in 1956 it was converted into a cinema, and in later decades part of the space also served as a discotheque. The southern wing has for years housed the local elementary art school, which keeps the building in use today, if in a role far removed from its original one. The Classicist aron ha-kodesh, the ornamented cabinet that once held the Torah scrolls, was removed from the synagogue and can now be seen in the town museum. The whole building is listed as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic.

What is happening to the building now?

A local nonprofit association has been working to fully reconstruct the synagogue and turn it into a cultural center, with space for concerts, exhibitions, performances, and lectures. The initiative raises funds and carries out restoration work gradually, trying to balance the preservation of the historic fabric with giving the building a new, publicly accessible role. As a result, despite its turbulent 20th-century history, the Volyně synagogue has a real chance of once again becoming an important gathering place for the local community.

Frequently asked questions

When was the Volyně synagogue built? The current building dates from 1838-1840 and was built in the Empire style on the site of an older synagogue at the center of the former ghetto. It was renovated in 1890.

Is the synagogue still used for religious services? No. Services were held there until World War II; afterward the building was converted first into a cinema and later also used as a discotheque. Part of it now houses a local art school.

What makes the building's exterior distinctive? Above the entrance is a gable bearing a Hebrew inscription and a relief of lions holding a shield with a clock — reportedly the oldest synagogue with a clock of this kind in the region.

Is the building protected, and what is being done with it today? Yes, it is listed as a Czech cultural monument. A nonprofit organization is working to reconstruct it and turn it into a cultural center for the town.