14 Dec Josefov
The Josefov quarter, AKA Jewish Quarter, is an important historic part of Prague. It is located between the Old Town Square and the Vltava River. It used to be a Jewish ghetto starting in the 13th century, when Jews were ordered to settle in this particular area.
Jews have allegedly settled in the city since the 10th century. During the centuries, more and more Jews moved to the ghetto and it became overpopulated. The Holy Roman Emperor Joseph II emancipated the Jews living under the Habsburg regime in 1781, and two years earlier Jews were allowed to settle outside the ghetto. After that, most of the remaining residents were Orthodox and poor Jews.
The area was mostly demolished in 1897 and many of the buildings were built at the beginning of the 20th century. During the Nazi occupation of Czechoslovakia 1939-45, residents of the ghetto were transported to the Terezin concentration camp and most of them died.
Nowadays this former ghetto still has vivid Jewish cultural life, and it is an important historical site and a tourist attraction. It has 6 synagogues, the Old-New Synagogue still being active, and the Jewish Ceremonial Hall.
What to do and see in Josefov
The Spanish Synagogue
Some say that the Moorish-style synagogue is the most beautiful in Europe. It was built in 1868 on the site of the oldest Prague synagogue. Its interior was completed in 1893.
The magnificent interior decoration has a low stucco arabesque of stylized Islamic motifs which are also applied to the walls, doors and gallery balustrades. Under the Nazi and Communist regimes the synagogue was almost abandoned, fell into a sorry state, and was eventually closed. In the latter part of the 20th century, the Jewish Museum in Prague took control of the building, and its restoration began. It is open to the public and classical concerts are being held here.
Old Jewish cemetery
This burial place gives a hint of how overpopulated the ghettos were. Graves and tombs are situated side-by-side within narrow spaces and in many layers. It was in use from the early 15th century until 1787 and the oldest preserved tombstone here dates back to 1439. There are allegedly about 12,000 tombstones presently visible in 12 layers, and there may be as many as 100,000 burials in all. The cemetery is one of the most remarkable in Europe.
The Old New Synagogue
The Old New Synagogue is Europe’s oldest active synagogue. It was built in Gothic style in 1270. and its interior consists e.g. double-nave with six bays. It is open to the public outside of the sermons and it is the center of Josefov and the religíous life of local Jews.
Tours
The Josefov district is part of a few sightseeing tours around Prague. The walking tour, Best of Prague, and the Grand City Sightseeing Tour are excellent ways to get acquainted with the Jewish Quarter along with the rest of Prague. You can find more information about the sightseeing tours of Prague here.
Kuvat: Wikimedia Commons CC-BY lisenssillä / Emmanuel Dyan, Manuamador, Jorge Láscar, Yair-haklai, Jay Galvin
| Josefov, Tsekin tasavalta |  | 8°C light rain |
Wind
6 m/s, WNW
Humidity
75%
Pressure
755.31 mmHg | ||
How to get in Josefov
- Metro line A goes near Josefov, stop is Staromestska.
- Trams 17 and 18, Staromestska.
Prague has an international airport. Airlines and destinations are visible here.
Trains in the Czech Republic are operated by Czech Railways, RegioJet, and Leo Express. E.g. from Berlin EC trains to Prague goes every 2 hours. More information about European train timetables here.
Bus operators Eurolines, Ecolines, Student Agency and Orange Ways connect Prague to major European cities.
