Synagogue in Nowy Sącz

The Synagogue in Nowy Sącz, known as the Castle Synagogue (Grodzka), stands at ul. Berka Joselewicza 12, near the castle, in the centre of the former Jewish quarter. The building dates from 1746 and, after decades of secular use, has returned to a religious function.

History of the building

The synagogue was built in 1746 on the basis of a privilege granted by the starost in 1699, in place of an older, wooden one. It was modelled on the synagogues in Chełm and Chęciny. In 1889 the interior was sketched by Stanisław Wyspiański. After a fire in 1894 the community rebuilt it with architectural changes.

The occupation and after the war

During the Second World War the Germans devastated the building and set up a warehouse in it for looted Jewish property. From 1974 the building was handed over to the regional museum, and after renovation in 1982 an art gallery, “The Former Synagogue”, operated here.

Today

In 2015 the building was taken over by the Jewish Religious Community in Kraków, and in May 2017 it was restored to religious use, with a Torah scroll carried in. Nearby stands the Royal Castle in Nowy Sącz.

Practical information

• Address: Berka Joselewicza 12, Nowy Sącz.
• The rules of admission are set by the owner of the building; check them before your visit.