The Jewish Quarter & Old Jewish Cemetery

Tucked into the heart of Prague’s Old Town, the Jewish Quarter (Josefov) is a place where history, memory, and resilience come together. Once the center of Jewish life in the city, Josefov has roots reaching back to the 10th century. Over the centuries, it has been a place of both thriving culture and hardship, its streets shaped by Prague’s Jewish community and their long history in the city.

One of its most moving sites is the Old Jewish Cemetery, founded in the early 15th century and in use until 1787. Space was so limited that graves were layered on top of one another — in some places up to 12 deep. The result is a hauntingly beautiful forest of leaning, weathered tombstones, each inscribed with Hebrew letters and symbols. Among the thousands buried here is the scholar and mystic Rabbi Judah Loew ben Bezalel, known in legend as the creator of the Golem of Prague.

The Jewish Quarter is also home to six historic synagogues, each telling part of the story. The Old-New Synagogue, built in the 13th century, is the oldest still-functioning synagogue in Europe. The Spanish Synagogue, with its ornate Moorish Revival interior, reflects a period of cultural flowering. The Pinkas Synagogue now serves as a memorial, its walls inscribed with the names of nearly 80,000 Czech and Moravian Jews who perished in the Holocaust.

Walking these narrow streets is to walk through centuries of perseverance and cultural richness. It’s a reminder that Josefov is not just a neighborhood — it’s a living testament to a community that has shaped Prague in ways seen and unseen.

Maisel and Pinkas Synagogues: Stories of Prague’s Jewish Heritage

The Jewish Quarter of Prague is filled with history, and two of its most poignant landmarks are the Maisel Synagogue and the Pinkas Synagogue. Both tell powerful stories — one of prosperity and culture, the other of remembrance and loss.

Maisel Synagogue: A Legacy of Prosperity

Built in the late 16th century by the wealthy Jewish benefactor Mordechai Maisel, this synagogue once symbolized the flourishing Jewish community of Prague. Though it suffered fires and rebuilding over the centuries, today it serves as part of the Jewish Museum, housing valuable exhibitions about Jewish life in Bohemia and Moravia. Walking through its halls, you’ll see rare books, ceremonial objects, and artifacts that trace centuries of cultural and religious life.

Pinkas Synagogue: A Place of Memory

Just steps away, the Pinkas Synagogue offers a much different atmosphere. Originally built in 1535, it now serves as a moving memorial to the 77,297 Czech Jews who perished in the Holocaust. The walls are inscribed with the names of men, women, and children who never returned. On the upper floors, haunting drawings by children imprisoned in Terezín reveal the innocence and resilience of young lives caught in tragedy.

Visiting these synagogues is not just a cultural experience — it’s an emotional journey into the story of Prague’s Jewish community. The Maisel tells of its vibrant life; the Pinkas ensures that those lost are never forgotten. Together, they remind us of both the richness and fragility of human history.