Kupa Synagogue

Built in 1643, this Baroque-style synagogue was made possible thanks to the contribution of local Kazimierz goldsmiths. The Kupa Synagogue’s interior is intricately decorated with stunning paintings on the walls and ceilings. Currently, the synagogue serves as Kraków’s Jewish center for religious and cultural ceremonies and festivities, including the annual Jewish Culture Festival in Kraków. It also holds regular Shabbat services and dinner for community members, as well as special ceremonies during the Jewish holidays of Rosh Hashanah, Simchat Torah, Pesach, Purim and Chanukah. Attend a holiday event at the Kupa Synagogue and you’ll be in for a cultural treat.

Although the original Kupa Synagogue was erected in 1643, it has undergone many renovations since then. The original square prayer hall was annexed with a second story and an entrance hall with washrooms, in 1834. Less than 30 years later, a western wing was added and by the end of the 19th century, the synagogue was annexed to an adjacent building. Although the synagogue was severely damaged during World War II, it was carefully restored in 2000, any many artefacts from before the war – like the wall murals – were uncovered.

Image attribution:
Zygmunt Put Zetpe0202, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Jakub Hałun, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons