The Synagogue in Radnice

Jews are believed to have come to Radnice in 1504 when they were expelled from Plzeň. In the small, out of the way town they found a refuge where they could feel at least somewhat safe. The Jewish ghetto and synagogue originated more than two centuries later. Some of the buildings in the ghetto remain preserved and the synagogue has been renovated.

The Radnice Synagogue is located near the main square in the direction of a stream. Built in the late Baroque style, it probably dates from 1781, going by an inscription on its western side. Its creation was enabled by the reform laws of Joseph II, which gave the Jewish population unprecedented civil rights, including the right to build new synagogues. Some of the original interior decoration has been preserved, as has a women’s gallery with separate outdoor stairway. The exterior is preserved in its original form, including the plaster, pilasters, lion cub relief and Hebrew inscription. The synagogue functioned as a place of worship until the Nazi occupation. After WWII it was home to a car parts shop. Between 1992 and 2002 it was restored thanks to the efforts of the local branch of the Czech Union for Nature Preservation, which bought it and now uses it as an environmental centre and exhibition space. Concerts are also held there.