Prague - Josefov, city walk, 2 hours
Maisel Synagogue – Pinkas synagogue – Klaus synagogue – Old Jewish Cemetery – Jewish Town Hall – High Synagogue – Old New Synagogue – Spanish Synagogue – Gallery of Robert Guttmann
Maisel Synagogue - it was built in 1590-1592, designed by Josef Wahl and Juda Goldsmied and paid by the communal leader Mordechei Maisel, who funded the extensive Renaissance reconstruction of the ghetto. It was named after him. Today the synagogue serves as a Jewish Museum depositary and as an exhibition hall.
Pinkas synagogue - the second oldest in the Jewish Town was founded in 1479 by Rabbi Pinkas, one of the Jewish community wealthy member, it is now one of the memorials to the victims of the Holocaust. Pinkas synagogu is the part of the Jewish museum of Prague.
Old Jewish Cemetery - The Old Jewish Cemetery was established in the first half of the 15th century and it was in use until 1787. Some of the gothic tomb stones were brought here from the cemetery, which was found in archaeological excavations under the Vladislavova street. Old Jewish Cemetery is one of the most important and most visited hictoric sites in Prague´s Jewish Town and it is one of the most memorable Jewish burial grounds in the world.
Klausen Synagogue - it is located by the entrance to the Old Jewish Cemetery. It takes its name from the German word "Klaus" meaning "smal building", which is derived from the Latin "claustrum". The present Klausen Synagogue building was completed in 1884. The Klausen Synagogue held an important place in the history of Prague´s Jewish Town. It was the largest synagogue in the ghetto and the seat of Prague´s Burial Society.
Old-New Synagogue - The Old-New Synagogue is one of the oldest and most valuable Jewish monuments of the world. It was built in early Gothic style around the middle of the 13th century. The main hall is the only existing medieval-type hall of its kind. The Old-New Synagogue, which is not part of the Jewish Museum, is one of the three Prague synagogues, together with the High and Jerusalem Synagogues, in which divine services are held.
High Synagogue - The Renaissance building is also called Town Hall Synagogue, as it creates one unit with the Jewish Town Hall and it was finished in the same time. It is designed as a preaching place for councilors of the Jewish Town Hall. The synagogue serves the Jewish community in Prague as a chapel, on the ground floor there is a shop and box-office of the Jewish Museum.
Jewish Town Hall - The Jewish Town Hall belongs to those few lucky Jewish monuments, which escaped the subsequent demolition in the early 20th century. It was constructed in 1586 in Renaissance style and it acquired its Rococo façade in the 18th century. The building was the main meeting house of the local Jewish community but is currently closed to the public.
Spanish Synagogue - the Spanish Synagogue belongs to the Jewish Museum in Prague. It was built in 1868 on the site of the oldest Prague Jewish house of prayer. It was designed in a Moorish style by Vojtěch Ignátz Ullmann. The Synagogue is most remarkable for the elaborate style of the interior, every surface is covered by elaborate Islamic-style polychrome and gilded patterns, some painted and some carved or molded.
Gallery of Robert Guttmann - The gallery is named after the well-known Prague naive painter Robert Guttmann, whose work is featured in the first exhibition. In this way it hopes to bring this artist to public attention and to promote young artists in their search for originality of artistic expression. The exhibitions will focus mainly on Czech Jewish artists from the late 19th and early 20th centuries and there will also be exhibitions of historic works that highlight the contribution of Jewish artists to various areas of Czech culture.
