Six impressive synagogues rise above the center of this former Jewish ghetto where Franz Kafka once lived and where concerts are held today.
Prague’s historic Jewish Quarter dates back to the 10th century, and is an area teeming with history. Today you can learn about Jewish customs and traditions, see where the famous author Franz Kafka often wandered and discover why the quarter wasn’t destroyed during the Nazi occupation.
Encircled by the Old Town, the Jewish Quarter began as a ghetto for pogrom refugees. After withstanding centuries of abuse, a large part of the ghetto was destroyed during the redevelopment of Prague in the early 20th century.
Nowadays, the exhibits and sights of the most significant buildings of the quarter make up the Jewish Museum. This includes the six synagogues, the Jewish Town Hall, the Old Jewish Cemetery and the Ceremonial Hall, a former mortuary.
Learn about the people that helped shape the ghetto at the various exhibits. See where the Jewish people worshipped at the six surviving synagogues. One of those, the Old New Synagogue, is the oldest active one in Europe. The Spanish Synagogue is a popular concert venue.
A visit to the Jewish Quarter is a moving experience for many people. The buildings here were spared during Nazi occupation as Adolf Hitler intended to maintain it as a “museum to an extinct race.”
The quarter is small in area and you can walk to all sites. Guides can be booked through a number of operators in the area and some tours include entry to the major attractions of the quarter. Tour guides in the Jewish Quarter come from many backgrounds and will tell their own unique stories of the Jewish people of Prague.
Reach the Jewish Quarter on foot from the Old Town or by tram and metro from other areas. The museum exhibits are closed on Saturdays and Jewish holidays and close earlier in winter.
