Explore Religious Heritage Across Europe

The Great Synagogue in Pidhaitsi was built as a fortress synagogue between 1621 and 1648. During World War II and the Holocaust, the local Jewish community was wiped out. Afterwards, the building was used as a storehouse. Today the building is empty and dilapidated.

The Great Synagogue of Pilsen is the largest in the Czech Republic. It was built between 1888 and 1892 in the Romanesque Revival style with Moorish elements according to the plans of the Viennese architect Max Fleischer. During the Second World War, the synagogue was used as a warehouse. After the war, it was used again for religious purposes until 1973, but by the end of the communist regime, it was almost abandoned.

The Great Synagogue of Sataniv was built in 1514 making it one of the oldest synagogues in Ukraine. It is a fortress synagogue built in Polish renaissance style. In 2015 the synagogue was renovated by a local businessman, Arthur Fridman.

The Great Synagogue of Sharhorod was constructed in 1589 making it one of the oldest synagogues in Ukraine. It was built as a fortress synagogue with 1 to 2 m thick walls. Between 1674 and 1699 it was occupied by Turks and used as a mosque. Restoration work on the synagogue was completed in 2012.

The Great Synagogue or simply known as the Slonim Synagogue is a 17th century former synagogue building in a baroque style. It was erected in 1642 as part of the town’s fortification system. In 1881 the synagogue was heavily damaged by a fire. It is now the subject of a restoration project under the Foundation for Jewish Heritage.

The Great Synagogue in Stolin was built in 1790-1793 in the neo-classicist style with help from the owner of the town, Kashtan Kozenewski. In 1827 the building was damaged by fire and later restored. After World War II the building was used for grain storage until it was abandoned in the 1980s. It currently is in disrepair missing a roof.

The Great Synagogue of Zhovka was built in the 1690s and serves as a good example of a late Renaissance fortress style synagogue with baroque additions. The synagogue was designed to protect Jews from invasions and to this day a passageway to the roof and underground shelters exist. It was included in the 2000 World Monuments Watch.

The Great Temple in Oradea is an Orthodox synagogue built in 1890 by architects Ferencz Knapp and Nándor Bách. It was restored between 2009 and 2017. This Neo-Moorish brick building still serves as a synagogue.

The Great Temple in Satu Mare is a Neologist synagogue built in 1870. This Neo-Romanesque and Neo-Moorish brick building still serves as a synagogue.

The Great Temple in Târgu Mureş was built between 1899 and 1900 by Jakob Gartner for a Status quo ante community (Hungarian Jewish that did not join the Neologist organisation or the Orthodox communities). The synagogue underwent many restorations (1910, 1929, 1975, 1983, 2003). The brick synagogue was built in the Neo-Romanesque and Neo-Moorish style.