Synagogues had always been the most important places for Jews. They served as meeting places; places where Jews could find a consolation, where they could come and complain about injustices the other people committed on them. Church services took place there and they also worked as schools where young children of Jews studied. Talented youngsters used to study there about their nation, its history, about abilities and knowledge which was passed from father to son, from generation to generation. Moreover, the world “synagogue” means “a school” in translation. And till the Jewish Town had its own town hall, synagogues served also as places for solving public matters, i.e. for negotiating about disputes, proposals, or opinions.

Pinkas Synagogue, built by rabbi Pinkas in the 16th century, became a sorrowful monument of modern history: 77.000 names engraved in a wall, 77.000 lost lives, 77.000 souls grieved to death, disfigured, and finally executed in concentration camps during the Second World War.

Maisel Synagogue was build on purpose by Mordechai Maisel in the 16th century. It was beautifully and generously decorated. However, even the beautiful decoration did not saved the Maisel Synagogue before a great fire in the 17th century. It burned down and its entire treasury was lost in the fire. Later, the Maisel Synagogue was renewed and in the 19th century it was rebuilt in the new gothic style. Today, you can find here an exposition of silver objects related to the Jewish religion.

Spanish Synagogue is the youngest synagogue of all here in Josefov. It was, on the contrary, built in Moresque style. It was built in 1890 on a place called “Old school” according to plan of Vojtěch Ignác Ulmann. The inside of the Spanish Synagogue found an inspiration in the Moresque style. Therefore, for somebody expecting some local architecture style, the search for something like that would be useless.

Except the Old New Synagogue, there are located sights of historical interest from the Jewish Museum in each synagogue. Therefore, if you visit these buildings, you do not find out only about the construction craft of Jewish constructors, about their taste, culture, but it also refers to the history of Jews, to theirs expansions and falls. Each synagogue has something special, something the other synagogues do not have. They are like small fragments, or pieces of history. And if you would like to see those pieces as a whole, understand it and imagine it, you need to fold up those pieces, those incomplete and partial sources of information together into one and complex image. Only then you will understand this culture, people and their destinies.