Kazimierz Synagogue Route

Kazimierz was a separate town founded in 1335 and became the centre of Jewish life in Krakow for five centuries, and the density of what survives is unusual: seven historic synagogues stand within a few streets, which is more than any other district in Poland. The Old Synagogue is the oldest surviving in the country, fifteenth-century, Gothic-vaulted, now a museum of Jewish history and ritual. The Remuh, from 1553, is the small working synagogue, with the old cemetery beside it where Moses Isserles is buried and where a wall was built from gravestone fragments recovered after the war. The Isaac, Kupa, High, Popper and Tempel synagogues make up the rest, each different in date and manner, some restored as galleries or cultural centres. The district also holds the Jewish Culture Festival each summer, one of the largest in Europe, and the streets around Szeroka are now dense with restaurants and bars.

The main sights

• The Old Synagogue - fifteenth-century, Gothic-vaulted, the oldest in Poland.
• The Remuh and its cemetery - a working synagogue of 1553 with the wall of fragments.
• Five more synagogues - Isaac, Kupa, High, Popper and Tempel, in a few streets.
• The summer festival - Jewish culture, among the largest such events in Europe.

When to go

April to October. A day.

Practical notes

Each synagogue has its own ticket and hours; several close on Saturdays. Working synagogues expect head covering and appropriate conduct. The district is heavily commercialised around Szeroka. Festival week is very busy.

Nearby

Krakow's old town is a short walk north; Podgorze is across the river.