Maisel Synagogue (Maiselova Synagoga)

The basics

Prague’s original Renaissance-style Maisel Synagogue (Maiselova Synagoga) burnt down during a ghetto fire in 1689 and was rebuilt in its current spindly form by architect Alfred Grotte. The synagogue is a highlight of Jewish Prague walking tours and the permanent exhibition showcases the history of Jews in Bohemia between the 10th and 18th centuries with a collection of Torahs and menorahs, Hebrew manuscripts, and models of the Jewish Ghetto. In the evenings the synagogue is a beautiful venue for concerts and other performances.

Things to know before you go

• The site is part of the larger Jewish Museum in Prague, a group of historic and cultural Jewish landmarks around the city. A single cumulative ticket includes admission to all seven sites.

• Touch-screen panels provide historic context and a multimedia tour of Jewish Prague in the early 19th century.

• You need to wear clothing covering your shoulders and knees to enter this and other sacred Jewish sites in Prague.

• The synagogue has a stairlift for wheelchair access but visiting with a stroller can be a challenge due to steps at the entrance.

How to get there

The Maisel Synagogue sits at the heart of Prague’s Jewish Quarter (Josefov) in the Staré Mesto Old Town, an easy walk from most of the city’s top sights and near the other Jewish landmarks that form the Jewish Museum in Prague. The closest public transport hub is Staroměstská Station, where metro line A, tram lines 17 or 18, and bus routes 194 and 207 stop.

When to get there

The synagogue is open daily except for Saturdays and Jewish holidays; opening hours may extend into the evening when a concert or performance is being held. For an updated calendar of events, enquire at the information and reservation center located just up the street at Maiselova 38/15.

Prague’s historic synagogues and how to visit

Prague’s former Jewish Ghetto (Josefov) is home to six historic synagogues that are striking both for their period architecture and their window into the culture and history of the city’s significant Jewish community over the centuries. Four of these synagogues—Maisel, Pinkas, Klausen, and Spanish—are part of the Jewish Museum in Prague sites and can be visited with a single museum ticket. The other two—the Old New Synagogue (the oldest in Europe) and the High Synagogue—are also open to visitors but you need to buy tickets separately at the door.