The Old Synagogue in Kraków is one of the oldest and most valuable Jewish places of worship in Poland and Europe.

It is hard to imagine Kraków without Kazimierz, which today is one of the city’s most recognisable districts. Kazimierz is vibrant and full of life, attracting lovers of art and culture, while local restaurants and pubs are bursting at the seams. Yet it is not only the modern face of Kazimierz that appeals to tourists and residents alike. What truly gives this part of the city its unique atmosphere is its history and monuments, the most famous of which is the Old Synagogue — the subject of today’s story.

The Old Synagogue in Kraków — practical information for visitors

The Old Synagogue in Krakow, Poland.

The Old Synagogue is open to visitors from Tuesday to Sunday between 10:00 and 17:00, and on Mondays from 10:00 to 15:00. The last admission is 30 minutes before closing. Please note that the exhibition is closed on every second Thursday of the month. Before planning your visit, it is worth checking the synagogue’s official website, as events are sometimes held there which may result in temporary closures.

Tickets can be purchased at the ticket office at the entrance to the synagogue or online. Personally, I recommend combining your visit with a walk around the Kazimierz district.

Ticket prices for the Old Synagogue are modest: currently 22 PLN for a standard ticket and 16 PLN for a concession. Prices may change at any time, so treat these amounts as a guideline rather than a guarantee. Admission is free on Mondays; however, as this day is very popular, it is advisable to arrive earlier.

The Old Synagogue is accessible to visitors with limited mobility and disabilities. If you have any questions or encounter difficulties, please contact the museum staff.

The Old Synagogue is located at: ul. Szeroka 24, 31-053 Kraków.

The Old Synagogue in Kraków and its history

The Old Synagogue in Kraków is one of those places whose history is best understood by following it step by step along a timeline. The story of the building is long and at times dramatic, which makes it all the more fascinating for anyone visiting Kazimierz in search of the source of the extraordinary atmosphere that can be felt at every turn. Below, I present the key moments in the history of this remarkable synagogue.

15th century – the birth of the synagogue

The origins of the Old Synagogue date back to the first half of the 15th century. At that time, Kazimierz (now a district of Kraków) was still a separate town, and its Jewish community was developing rapidly. The first synagogue was built in the Gothic style and served not only as a place of worship but also as a centre of religious and social life. It was the heart of Jewish Kazimierz — a place of learning, debate and important decisions.

16th century – reconstruction and a golden age

At the turn of the 15th and 16th centuries, the synagogue underwent a major reconstruction, most likely carried out by the Italian architect Matteo Gucci. It was then given its Renaissance character, with a solid, fortress-like form. This period marked the flourishing of the Jewish community in Kraków — a time of relative safety and cultural and intellectual development. The Old Synagogue became the most important house of prayer in Kazimierz.

17th–18th centuries – fires and rebuilding

The following centuries were far less kind. The synagogue was repeatedly damaged by fires, the most serious occurring in 1657 during the Swedish Deluge. Each time, however, it was rebuilt and restored to its original function. These reconstructions left traces that are still visible today in the interior architecture.

19th century – change and new times

In the 19th century, Kazimierz was incorporated into Kraków, and the religious life of the Jewish community gradually shifted to newer synagogues. The Old Synagogue lost its former importance, although it remained a powerful symbol of tradition and history. Over time, it ceased to serve a regular religious function.

The Second World War – a time of destruction

The most tragic chapter in the synagogue’s history came during the Second World War. Under German occupation, it was desecrated and looted, and its interior was devastated. Almost all of its furnishings were lost, and the building was used as a warehouse. The walls, however, survived — silent witnesses to the tragedy of Kraków’s Jews.

After 1945 – restoration and a museum

After the war, conservation work began with the aim of preserving the synagogue as a historic monument. In 1959, it became a branch of the Historical Museum of the City of Kraków, dedicated to the history and culture of Kraków’s Jewish community. From that moment on, the Old Synagogue became a place of remembrance and education.

Today – a place worth visiting

Today, the Old Synagogue is one of the most important landmarks in Kazimierz. It is visited by both tourists and those seeking a deeper understanding of Kraków’s history. Walking through its interiors allows visitors to trace the fate of a community that helped shape the city for centuries. It is an ideal stop on any sightseeing route — a place not only to see, but also to experience.

Visiting the Old Synagogue — the oldest Jewish house of worship in Poland

In the very heart of Kraków’s Kazimierz district, among cobbled streets and town houses bearing the marks of past centuries, stands a building around which Kazimierz itself grew — the Old Synagogue, the oldest surviving synagogue in Poland. The building does not impose itself on the passer-by; on the contrary, it is easy to walk past without noticing it. Only when you step closer and slow your pace do the old brick walls reveal a precious and ancient monument whose history dates back to the 15th century. Kazimierz was a separate town and one of the most important centres of Jewish life in Central Europe.

Upon entering, it is easy to feel that time slows down. Light filtering through small windows casts soft shadows on the walls, and the silence feels almost tangible. This was a place where sacred texts were studied, scholarly debates were held and whispered prayers rose towards the vaults like echoes of bygone centuries. Even today, one might feel that these voices have not entirely faded and are merely waiting to tell their story. Fate was not kind to the synagogue. The devastation of the Second World War left its mark, yet the building endured. Restored and preserved, it has become not only a historic monument but also a guardian of memory. Today it houses a museum that offers a glimpse into the world of Kraków’s Jews of past centuries — their daily lives, customs, and spirituality.

Dozens of historic objects donated by the residents of Kraków, ritual items, old books, and thousands of photographs and documents are just some exhibits you will encounter while exploring the shadowed corners of the synagogue. The most valuable items on display include:

  • A lambrequin, a decorative textile element used in synagogue interiors, made in the form of a long strip of fabric adorned with fringes and embroidery. The one displayed here is made of dark velvet and decorated with lions and floral motifs. It dates from 1770 and was brought to Kraków from a synagogue in Germany.
  • Rimonim, ornamental finials placed on the wooden rollers of the Torah scroll. The example on display dates from the interwar period.
  • A Hanukkah lamp made in Lviv at the beginning of the 19th century.
  • A Seder plate depicting the Exodus of the Jews from Egypt, dating from the early 19th century and made in Lviv.
  • Genre scenes and portraits of Jews presented in photography, painting and graphic art, which in my opinion form the most valuable part of the exhibition, offering insight into the everyday life of Kazimierz’s residents. Among them are works by masters such as the Kossak brothers and Jacek Malczewski.
  • The largest collection in Kraków of traditional elements of Jewish dress.
  • In one of the display cases, I discovered valuable 19th-century children’s amulets, intended to protect children from illness and evil spells.

Of course, there are many more precious exhibits and furnishings in the Old Synagogue — all it takes is a little patience to find them. Remember also that visiting the Old Synagogue is not just about viewing stones and artefacts. It is an encounter with history that does not shout, but speaks in a hushed voice. It is a place for those who seek beyond beautiful views when they travel — a moment of reflection, a sense of continuity and a subtle shiver of mystery. If you are planning a walk through Kazimierz, allow yourself this stop. Perhaps it is here that Kraków will reveal its most mystical face to you.

The Old Synagogue and the legend of the hidden treasure

Fascists, Nazis during World War II AI.

When dusk falls over Kazimierz and the shadow of the Old Synagogue stretches across the cobbled street, the oldest residents speak in whispers of a secret that no one has fully dared to uncover. It is a legend of treasure, blood, and a spirit that still watches over the stone foundations of the synagogue. For years, this story has been kept quiet, so as not to tempt the bold to search for priceless riches.

It was 1942. Tension hung over the district, thick as the smoke from burning houses. The Jewish community knew that the worst days were approaching. It was then that Rabbi Elijahu ben Meir, a scholar and guardian of tradition, gathered a few trusted individuals: the goldsmith Aaron Feldman, the chronicler Samuel Rotbaum and young Sara Lewin — a girl who knew every corner of the synagogue. According to the tale passed down through generations, it was her name that later became inseparably linked with the legend.

In the basement of the Old Synagogue, at night and by the light of dying candles, the greatest treasures of the community were hidden: golden candlesticks, silver Torah crowns and valuables donated by families over many centuries. This was not a treasure born of greed — it was meant to survive the war and become the foundation of rebirth once evil had passed. The entrance to the hiding place was sealed, and the plan was known to only a handful of people.

The next day, the Germans came. During one of the brutal round-ups, a bloody confrontation took place near the synagogue. Aaron Feldman was shot on the steps leading inside as he tried to distract the soldiers. It is said that his blood soaked so deeply into the stone that to this day, on rainy days, the paving stones near the entrance darken faster than anywhere else. Sara disappeared that same night — according to some, she was killed; according to others, she descended into the underground chambers, never to return.

After the war, the first treasure hunters appeared. In the 1950s, a labourer named Jan K. claimed that during renovation works he heard the sound of metal striking metal beneath the floor. A few days later, he fell down the synagogue stairs and died, and his notebook vanished without a trace. In the 1970s, a group of illegal seekers attempted to access the foundations at night — one of them ran out pale as chalk, screaming that he had seen a woman in a dark dress standing in a passage that had not been there moments before. The rest were found unconscious the next morning, their hands injured and bearing marks as if they had been dragged across stone.

The spirit said to guard the treasure is known as Sara the Guardian. It is said that she is not vengeful, but merciless towards those who descend beneath the synagogue with greed in their hearts. She appears as a shadow, a sudden chill or a quiet whisper in Hebrew that no one has been able to translate. Some believe she is the soul of Sara Lewin; others claim that the synagogue itself chose her as its protector.

To this day, no one has found the treasure. Or perhaps someone did… and never returned to tell the tale. While visiting the Old Synagogue, it is easy to sense that the place holds more than its official history. If you stand in silence by the thick walls and cool stone floor, you may hear the echo of footsteps from long ago. And then remember — not all secrets wish to be uncovered.

The Old Synagogue in Kraków — information and interesting facts

  • The Old Synagogue is the oldest preserved synagogue in Poland and one of the oldest in Central Europe.
  • It was built in the 15th century, when Kazimierz was still a separate town rather than a district of Kraków.
  • Originally Gothic in style, it gained Renaissance features after its 16th-century reconstruction.
  • Its solid mass and thick walls give it a fortress-like appearance, symbolising the durability and security of the community.
  • The reconstruction is attributed to Matteo Gucci, an Italian architect working at the royal court.
  • For centuries, it was the most important synagogue in Kazimierz and the centre of Jewish religious life in Kraków.
  • Its interiors hosted not only prayers but also religious teaching and meetings of the kahal.
  • The synagogue suffered damage in several fires, including during the Swedish Deluge in 1657.
  • Each time it was rebuilt, leaving traces of different historical periods in its interior.
  • In the 19th century, with the construction of newer synagogues, it lost its role as the main house of prayer.
  • During the Second World War, it was desecrated and looted by the German occupiers.
  • Under occupation, its interior was used as a warehouse and almost all furnishings were destroyed.
  • After the war, it was decided not to restore its religious function, but to preserve it as a monument and place of memory.
  • Since 1959, it has housed a museum dedicated to the history and culture of Kraków’s Jews.
  • Visitors can see original fragments of stone portals and architectural details dating back numerous centuries.
  • The building survived the war in far better condition than many other structures in Kazimierz.
  • The Old Synagogue is located on Szeroka Street, once the centre of Jewish life in the district.
  • Its interior is characterised by austerity and minimalism, enhancing the atmosphere of reflection and silence.
  • It is one of the most frequently visited landmarks in Kazimierz by tourists interested in Kraków’s history.
  • For many visitors, the Old Synagogue is not just a museum, but a symbol of the centuries-old presence of Jews in Kraków and a silent witness to their fate.

Polish version