Dohany Street Synagogue

Ludwig Forster designed the Dohany Street synagogue in the 1850s for a congregation that wanted its building on a main street rather than hidden behind one. The result is Moorish Revival: banded brick and terracotta, two onion-domed towers on the front, and an interior of gilded arcades, cast-iron columns and coloured glass, with seating for roughly three thousand people, which makes it the largest synagogue in Europe. An organ sits above the ark, unusual in a synagogue and a sign of how reform-minded the founders were. The complex also holds the Hungarian Jewish Museum in an adjoining wing and a courtyard garden with a metal weeping willow by the sculptor Imre Varga.

History

The Jewish community of Pest built the synagogue between 1854 and 1859 to plans by the Viennese architect Ludwig Förster, who chose Moorish Revival forms because he believed no distinctively Jewish architecture could be identified, and it was meant as the first monumental sign of Jewish presence in the city. It was consecrated on 6 September 1859, with 2,964 seats, making it the largest Jewish place of worship built before the 20th century (Wikipedia, Dohány Street Synagogue).

What's there

• The street front - banded brick and terracotta under two onion-domed towers.
• The main hall - gilded arcades, iron columns and seating for around three thousand.
• The organ - set above the ark, rare in a synagogue and still used for concerts.
• The courtyard garden - the metal weeping willow and the quiet space behind the building.

When to go

Open Sunday to Friday, with the last entry well before dark in winter and shorter Friday hours. It closes on Saturdays and Jewish holidays, which catches out a lot of weekend visitors. Queues are shortest in the first hour. Head covering is provided for men and shoulders should be covered; the guided rounds included in the ticket run frequently in several languages.

Good to know

The ticket is one of the most expensive in Budapest and the guided round is brisk. Several tour groups often talk over one another in the same hall, and the acoustics do not help. The building shows its age in places and restoration work moves around it. The surrounding streets have become a heavy nightlife district, so daytime is a different city from evening here.

Nearby

The seventh district's courtyards and the Rumbach Street synagogue are a short walk away.

Key facts