synagogue of Soultz-Haut-Rhin

The synagogue of Soultz-Haut-Rhin is a historic Jewish house of prayer standing in the Alsatian town of Soultz-Haut-Rhin, in the Haut-Rhin department. Built between 1835 and 1838, it has been listed as a French historical monument since 1984.

How to get there?

Soultz-Haut-Rhin sits in Alsace, in the Haut-Rhin department, along the Alsace Wine Route, close to Guebwiller. The synagogue stands on what is now Rue de la Synagogue, a street formerly known as Rue des Bouchers (Butchers' Street). The town is small and easiest to reach by car as part of a longer trip through the region's vineyards; the synagogue itself pairs well with a short walk through the old part of Soultz.

What will you see?

The current building, dating from 1835-1838, replaced an earlier synagogue that likely stood on today's Rue Louis Pasteur, a street once known as the Street of the Jews. A house still standing on that street, dating from 1729, bears a Hebrew inscription and is believed to have housed the community's ritual bath. The synagogue itself is a modest but telling example of early-19th-century Jewish religious architecture in Alsace. It served the community until 1939, after which it ceased to function as a place of worship and has remained unused ever since.

The history of Soultz's Jewish community

Jewish families first settled in Soultz as early as the 13th century, with permission from the Bishop of Strasbourg. In 1349, during the Black Death epidemic, the community was expelled from the town. Jews returned to Soultz toward the end of the 15th century, resettling mainly on the street then known as the Street of the Jews. By 1808, the local Jewish community numbered 231 people — a population large enough to justify building a new, larger house of worship, which took shape as the synagogue erected between 1835 and 1838. The building remained in use for over a century, until 1939.

When to visit?

Since the synagogue is no longer used for worship, it has no fixed visiting hours — it is primarily a building to admire from the outside, valued for its architecture and the history it represents. Spring, summer, or early autumn are the best times to explore Alsace and the nearby Wine Route on foot or by car. It's worth pairing a visit with a stop on old Rue Louis Pasteur, where the 1729 house with its Hebrew inscription still stands.

Frequently asked questions

Can the synagogue in Soultz-Haut-Rhin be visited inside? The building has not been used as a place of worship since 1939, so there are no regular visiting hours. It's best to check locally, for instance with the town hall, before planning a visit.

When was the current synagogue built? The building was constructed between 1835 and 1838, replacing an earlier synagogue used by the same community.

What happened to the earlier synagogue in Soultz? The earlier synagogue likely stood on today's Rue Louis Pasteur. A house from 1729 still standing there bears a Hebrew inscription and may have housed the community's ritual bath.

Is the synagogue a protected historical monument? Yes, the building was listed as a French historical monument in 1984.