The Jewish Ceremonial Hall from Červená street
Towards the river there are the remaining buildings of the ancient and populous Jewish ghetto. At least forty thousand people lived here before the war, but only a few hundred remained aftyer the Nazi raids. Architectural testimonies remain such as the Old-New Synagogue (the oldest in Europe) and the Beth-Hachaljim cemetery, impressive with thousands of funerary stones chaotically stacked in a few metres of land.T he Jewish Quarter has: six synagogues; the Jewish Ceremonial Hall; and the most remarkable, the Old Jewish Cemetery.
In the cloisters of the Convent of Saint Agnes there is a small museum.
The six Jewish Synagogues are: High Synagogue, Spanish Synagogue, Klausen Synagogue, Maisel Synagogue, Pinkas Synagogue, Old-New Synagogue.
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What is the Prague Jewish Quarter?
The Prague Jewish Quarter (also known as Josefov) is a town quarter in Prague. The quarter hosts Franz Kafka’s birthplace.
When was the Prague Jewish Quarter built?
In the 13th century, Jewish people were ordered to vacate their disparate homes and settle in this one area. They were forbidden to live in any other district of Prague and they were joined by the Jews expelled from Moldavia, Austria, Germany and even Spain. Most of the quarter was demolished between 1893 and 1913, leaving six synagogues, the Old Cemetery and the Old Jewish Town Hall. They form the best preserved complex of historical Jewish monuments in the entire Europe.
Why did Adolf Hitler want to preserve the Jewish Quarter?
Adolf Hitler wanted to preserve the Jewish Quarter in Prague as a “Museum of an Extinct Race”. Therefore, the Nazis plundered Jewish artefacts from other occupied territories and brought them to Prague to form part of the museum.
Why is the Jewish Quarter of Prague called Josefov?
The name Josefov is a tribute of the Jews to Joseph II, the ruler who integrated this community into the Czech society with the Toleration Edict in 1781. During the sixteenth and seventeenth century, and due to the accusations of the Christians, all Jews were made to wear a yellow piece of clothing to distinguish them from the rest of the population. The Josefov district was made part of Prague in 1850, and at the end of the nineteenth century, authorities restored the area completely, maintaining the synagogues, the cemetery and the town hall.
General informations
Useful information for your visit to the Prague Jewish Quarter.
Location
The Jewish Quarter in Prague is located between the Old Town Square and the Vltava River.
How to get to the Prague Jewish Quarter
To reach the Prague Jewish Quarter:
Metro station: Staroměstská, line A.
Tram stop: Staroměstská, lines 17 and 18.
Attractions nearby
- Old Jewish Cemetery (76 m)
- Josefov’s Six Synagogues (83 m)
- Staré Město (272 m)
- Prague Astronomical Clock (294 m)
- Old Town Square (294 m)