Jewish Museum in Prague
Jewish Quarter (Josefov), Prague 1

The Jewish Museum comprises four synagogues, the Jewish Ceremonial Hall, the Old Jewish Cemetery, and the Robert Guttmann Gallery.

To visit the Jewish Museum in Prague, either buy a self-guided ticket on the day of your visit or book the Jewish Quarter Tour. The tour is led by a certified guide of the Jewish Museum, and tickets must be booked in advance.

The only major monument not included in the collection is the Old-New Synagogue, which requires a separate ticket.

Jewish Museum Monuments:

Maisel Synagogue
Founded in 1592, Maisel Synagogue exhibits a cross-section of the history of the Jews in Bohemia, from the early Jewish communities of the 10th century through to their emancipation in the 18th century.

Spanish Synagogue
The Spanish Synagogue is often described as the most beautiful synagogue in Europe. The exhibition inside follows on chronologically from the displays at Maisel Synagogue. It details the history of the Czech and Moravian Jews from the 18th century to the present day.

Pinkas Synagogue
Dating from 1535, Pinkas Synagogue is the work of the Horowitz family. After the Second World War, the synagogue was turned into a Memorial to the Jews of Bohemia and Moravia murdered by the Nazis. On its walls are inscribed the names of the Jewish victims, their personal data, and the names of the communities to which they belonged. There are 80,000 names.

Klausen Synagogue
Located at the entrance to the Old Jewish Cemetery, the Klausen Synagogue was the largest synagogue in the Jewish ghetto and the seat of the Prague Burial Society. It houses a permanent exhibition entitled 'Jewish Customs and Traditions'.

Jewish Ceremonial Hall
The Ceremonial Hall of the Prague Burial Society houses the second part of the exhibition 'Jewish Customs and Traditions'.

Old Jewish Cemetery
Founded in the 15th century, the Old Jewish Cemetery is among the oldest surviving Jewish burial grounds in the world, and is one of the most important historical monuments in the Jewish Quarter in Prague.

Robert Guttmann Gallery
The gallery, named after the Prague painter Robert Guttmann (1880-1942), hosts temporary exhibitions focusing on Jewish life, the persecution of Bohemian and Moravian Jews during the Second World War, Jewish monuments in Czechia, and the Jewish presence in contemporary visual art.

History of the Jewish Museum:

The Jewish Museum in Prague was established in 1906, with the aim to preserve valuable artifacts from Prague synagogues and other historic buildings demolished in the partial redevelopment of the Jewish Quarter at the turn of the 20th century.

Following the Nazi invasion in 1939, the museum was abolished. But it was subsequently re-established by the Prague Jewish community in 1942, with Nazi approval, with the aim to preserve Jewish heritage. It was renamed the Central Jewish Museum, and became a shelter for the remainder of World War II for liturgical objects, books and archival documents from the defunct Jewish communities.

In 1950, the communist state took control and severely restricted its research and preservation work, and limited the extent of its displays.

On 1st October 1994, the Jewish Museum in Prague finally became an independent organisation once more, and is today considered to be one of the oldest Jewish museums in Europe. It is Czechia's most visited museum.

Note: The Jewish Quarter Tour is a comprehensive, highly enlightening tour of the Jewish Museum. It is led by an expert guide who specialises in Jewish history, and includes admission to the monuments.

Note: Our general tours of Prague also include a visit to the Jewish Quarter:
Prague Explorer Tour + Boat Trip
Prague City & Castle Tour + Boat Trip
Prague Historical Centre & Castle Tour + Boat Trip
Old Town & Jewish Quarter Tour.