Vincennes Synagogue

The Vincennes Synagogue stands at 30 rue Céline Robert in Vincennes, a town just outside the eastern edge of Paris, within the Val-de-Marne department of the Île-de-France region. It's a small stone house of worship that has served the local Jewish community for well over a century.

How do you get to the synagogue in Vincennes?

Vincennes sits right on Paris's border, so reaching it from central Paris by public transport typically takes somewhere between fifteen and twenty-five minutes. The town is well connected to the capital by metro and bus lines, and the synagogue itself sits in a quiet residential pocket of Vincennes, within easy walking distance of the town's better-known landmarks, including its castle and the large park bordering the town. Approaching on foot from the town center is a pleasant option, since the surrounding streets are calm and easy to navigate.

What's the story behind the building?

The synagogue was designed by architect Victor Tondu, with funding provided by Daniel Iffla, a French philanthropist known for backing numerous public and religious institutions around the turn of the twentieth century. Built of stone, the synagogue opened in 1907. It went up at a time when the Jewish community around Paris was growing and increasingly needed permanent places of worship beyond the capital itself — Vincennes, sitting right at Paris's edge, was a natural spot for such a project.

What will you see when you visit?

From the outside, the synagogue is a modest stone building, in keeping with the small houses of worship built in Paris-area suburbs during that period — not monumental in scale, but carrying the architectural detailing typical of its era. The building remains an active synagogue and place of worship for the local community rather than a museum piece, so visiting the interior generally depends on service times and the customs expected at active religious sites. Visitors interested in religious architecture can still approach and take in the façade and surroundings while respecting the building's role as a working place of worship.

When is the best time to visit?

Since the synagogue functions primarily as a place of worship rather than a tourist site with fixed visiting hours, it's worth checking locally in advance if seeing the interior is the goal. The surrounding area — Vincennes's quiet streets, its castle, and its municipal park — is pleasant to explore at any time of year, and a walk toward the synagogue pairs easily with a look at the town's other attractions.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the synagogue located? At 30 rue Céline Robert in Vincennes, in the Val-de-Marne department of the Île-de-France region, right at the edge of Paris.

Who designed the building and when was it built? Architect Victor Tondu designed it, and Daniel Iffla funded its construction. The stone synagogue opened in 1907.

Can visitors go inside the synagogue? It remains an active place of worship for the local Jewish community, so interior access depends on service times and the customs observed at religious sites — it's best to check ahead of a visit.

Are there other attractions nearby? Yes — Vincennes is home to a royal castle and a large municipal park, so a stop at the synagogue can easily be combined with further sightseeing in the town.