A Guide to Prague’s Historical Quarters: Jewish Quarter
Prague was been known to have many nicknames. The ‘city of a hundred spires’, ‘the magic city’, ‘the mother of cities’, ‘the city with 100 bell towers’, ‘the golden city’; and the ‘heart of Europe’. Travel to Prague, and you will instantly understand why. It is a captivating city full of beautiful buildings and historical sites just waiting to be explored. This bohemian city sits on the hills alongside the Vltava River, and features a stunning skyline of Gothic spires. It is so photogenic with its cobblestone streets, red rooftops, extensive gardens and brightly coloured buildings.
Prague used to be known as the ‘Five Towns’, although it is divided into 10 separate districts, most visitors tend to concentrate on the five historic towns:
- Castle district (or Hradčany)
- Old Town (or Staré Město)
- Little Quarter (or Malá Strana)
- New Town (or Nové Město)
- Jewish Quarter (or Josefov)
This travel guide is part of a five-part series focusing on each of the five areas one at a time. It will highlight some of the area’s best of, so you won’t miss a thing. This is the last one of the series, focusing on the Jewish Quarter.
The History of the Jewish Quarter
Many cities used to have, or still have, Jewish quarters. Prague’s is situated between Old Town and the Vltava River. As early as the 13th century, Jewish people were ordered to settle into one area of Prague. The Jewish Quarter is a definite must see because it is an UNESCO World Heritage site. It is not only as a reminder of a tragic part of the world’s history, but also for its undeniable beauty and charm.
Key Attractions
The Old Jewish Cemetery
The Old Jewish Cemetery is the city’s oldest surviving Jewish burial ground. It dates back to the middle of the 15th century. Due to the fact that Jewish people were prohibited from burying their dead outside the Jewish Quarter, this graveyard is crammed with some 12,000 visible tombstones. It is estimated that there are 100,000 more bodies stacked up to 12 layers below ground.
The graves were never relocated because Jewish traditions dictate not to move bodies after they are buried. The settling of the ground over time has created lopsided tombstones pointing in every direction, a most surreal sight that casts an eerily, yet beautiful spell.
The Synagogues
The Old-New Synagogue is the oldest surviving synagogue in Europe. It’s one of the earliest Gothic buildings in Prague, built in 1270.
The Pinkas Synagogue is the city’s second-oldest Jewish house of worship, dating back to the 1500s. It began as a private place of worship for the influential family, although it was later expanded to rival the Old-New Synagogue.
The Klausen Synagogue was founded in the 1690s. It sits on a site that was formerly occupied by a small Jewish school and prayer house (Klausen), in what was then a notorious red-light district of the Jewish Quarter.
The Spanish Synagogue got its name for its impressive Moorish interior design. It sits on the site of the city’s first synagogue, even though it is the most recent one, built in 1868.
The Neo-Gothic Maisel Synagogue was built at the end of the 16th century as a private house of prayer for the family of mayor Mordechai Maisel.
Why not join a tour and visit all of the Jewish Quarter’s synagogues.
Kafka Monument
Franz Kafka was born to a Czech-Jewish father and a German-Jewish mother. Kafka lived in the Old Town despite his Jewish heritage. As a German among Czechs, a Jew among Germans, and an agnostic among believers, Kafka lived a life of alienation and fear, which also reflects in his writings.
The Kafka Monument depicts Franz Kafka riding on the shoulders of a headless figure (presumably Kafka himself). This is in reference to the author’s 1912 story “Description of a Struggle”.
The Parizska Street
Parizska Street (or Paris Street) resembles the Champs-Élysées in Paris. It has the same long tree-lined boulevard with high-end shops. It runs through the Jewish Quarter, connecting the Old Town Square to the Charles Bridge. It’s a beautiful area to stroll due to its early 20th century Art Nouveau buildings.
I found so many cute Parisienne cafes and boutique shops that I almost felt I was transported to Paris for the afternoon.
As a holidaymaker…
Prague is easily one of Europe’s most photogenic cities. From its medley of architectural styles to its numerous landmarks. Time has stood still in Prague’s five historical quarters, straight out of a fairytale.
Be sure to check out the other four historical areas within this blog series.
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19 Comments
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Maggie
This was such a fascinating article! How ironic that this neighborhood was preserved by Hitler so that it could be used as a museum. And I loved learning about the cemetery – that’s so many people buried in one place!! Eerie but fascinating
The.Holidaymaker
Thank you for your comment Maggie! I am glad you enjoyed the article.
The.Holidaymaker
Thank you for your comment Indrani for stopping by.
Indrani
They have some very interesting statues! I remember the visit to the Old Jewish cemetery, very sad place. They didn’t allow photography of the artwork of the kids there, and I completely understand. One place I would want to visit again.
Delphine
I visited Prague just after the country opened to the West. It was wildly interesting… I remember wandering through the Old Jewish Cemetery and it was very moving, all these piled up graves with their little rocks wrapped in paper… It took me a while to understand the significance of the messages…
The.Holidaymaker
Wow, I bet you would have a different experience now. Unfortunately Prague has been overrun by tourists. I’m glad you enjoyed visiting the cemetery as I did. Moving experience.
Linda (LD Holland)
We had a tour guide in Prague and we learned a little about the Jewish Quarter. But your blog post provides so much more detailed information. We are sorry we missed the cemetery. It is fascinating to see the history from the tombstones. We saw so much art when we walked the streets. But I guess we somehow missed the statue of Kafka. An interesting one for sure.
The.Holidaymaker
Thank you for your comment Linda. I’m sorry that your tour didn’t provide you as much info as I shared. But hopefully it adds to your memories of your visit.
Emma Riggs
I actually didn’t realise that Jewish people were ordered to live in a certain area way back then. I’m fascinated with the odd beauty of the graveyard. I really love the ancient tombstones that are a bit skew-whiff and set amongst the green forest, which seems to be kind of taking over. How awful to think that Hitler preserved the area to showcase an ‘extinct race.’ Just wow…
The.Holidaymaker
Thanks for stopping by Emma, and for your thoughtful comment. This Quarter of Prague is such a historic and important part of our history and really a must-see when in the city.
Cosette
I loved Prague when I visited about 20 years ago, I took a tour of the historical quarter back then.
Karl
What a beautiful neighbourhood and some fascinating history! The photos really bring it to life!
The.Holidaymaker
Thank you Karl for stopping by and commenting. You are right, the perfect historic neighbourhood to stroll and learn.
Nadia
How Cool! We visited a Jewish historical area in Bologna, Italy. So amazing how history can be preserved in little areas like this around the world.
The.Holidaymaker
Definitely agree with you! Thanks for stopping by and commenting Nadia!
Maya
I love Prague! I actually took a tour around the Jewish Quarter and it was very interesting to learn about the community’s history. The area has such beautiful streets! Lovely post!
The.Holidaymaker
Thank you for stopping by Maya and for your comment. I would like to have taken a tour, I’m sure it was interesting.