Visit Josefov, Prague Jewish Quarter

Visit the Jewish quarter of Prague: discover the Jewish Museum of Prague, the Old New Synagogue and the other relics of the Josefov district!

Former Jewish ghetto in the city of Prague, the Josefov district or Jewish quarter is one of the oldest in Prague and especially Old Town. This neighbourhood has seen one of the most important Jewish communities in Central Europe flourishing in rich and enlivened history.

From it there are only a few symbols: synagogues, museums and cemeteries. Discovering them is travelling through the history of Bohemia and Europe.

The history of the Jewish quarter of Prague

The history of the Josefov district begins with the arrival of the first Jews in Prague in the 8th century. First scattered all over the city, the community will decide to gather in the Old Town. Benefiting from an autonomous jurisdiction, the Jewish population will alternate between periods of persecution, where it suffers pogroms, discrimination and expulsions, and periods of prosperity, as in the late 16th century and early 17th century.

This clemency period coincides with the life of the mayor of the neighborhood: Marcus Mordecai Maisel, Minister of Finance of the kingdom, who, thanks to his wealth and generosity, will develop the Jewish quarter. We owe him the famous Butel Synagogue that bears his name. It is also at this time that the Golem myth is born!

The Jewish quarter will take the name of Josefov in the 18th century, another great period of prosperity, when Emperor Joseph II will issue a decree of tolerance in 1781.

During a visit to the Jewish quarter of Prague, you will learn that it was largely demolished at the beginning of the 19th century, following an initiative inspired by the Parisian Haussmann model, which aimed to assassinate and reshape the city. Josefov is then cut in two by the long avenue of Paris ( Pařížská ), which leaves from the Place de la Vieille-Ville to the Vltava, in the North. From the old Jewish quarter, only the six synagogues, the old cemetery and the town hall. Because of this renovation, it is difficult to discern the old aspect of this neighbourhood today.

How to visit the Jewish quarter of Prague?

The main points of interest and visits to the Jewish quarter of Prague are:

Where to find the Josefov district? How to get there?

The Jewish Museum of Prague Born as a result of the redesign of the Jewish quarter, the museum has one of the most important collections in the world with regard to the history, customs and traditions of the Jewish community of Bohemia and Moravia. The museum is divided between the historical synagogues (Klaus, Maisel, Spanish, Pinkas), don’t hesitate to take advantage of a guide to visit them.

Opening hours:

• Every day except Saturday and Jewish religious holidays
• November to March: 9am to 4:30pm
• April to October: from 9am to 6pm

Single and common ticket to 350 CZK (14€) for an adult and guided tour to 530 CZK (21€) for an adult.

The old Jewish cemetery Founded in the 15th, this cemetery is the oldest Jewish cemetery in Prague. Others who have disappeared over time. He is one of the oldest Jewish cemetery in Europe with the Heiliger Sand in Worms, Germany. Tickets and schedules common with the Jewish Museum in Prague. Access is made by the synagogue Pinkas (rue Sikora).

The Old New Synagogue It is one of the oldest Gothic buildings in Prague. The worship is still celebrated today. It is visited independently of the other synagogues, administered by the museum and the Jewish community.

Opening hours:

• Every day except Saturday and Jewish religious holidays.
• November to March: 9am to 4:30pm
• April to October: from 9am to 6pm

The Decorative Arts Museum Opening hours: Open Tuesday from 10am to 8pm, Wednesday to Sunday from 10am to 6pm.

The Jewish quarter is juxtaposed with the tourist quarters of Old Town, making a tour in this neighborhood is an excellent idea to discover the history of Prague and its Jewish community, which gradually reborn.

Main Photo Credit: Flickr – Garrett Ziegler