Old Synagogue (Museum of Krakow)

The Old Synagogue stands at ul. Szeroka 24 in Kazimierz, the historic Jewish quarter of Krakow, in Poland's Lesser Poland region. It is one of the oldest surviving synagogue buildings in Poland, in use from the 15th century, and it is now a branch of the Museum of Krakow with an exhibition on the history, traditions and religious life of Krakow's Jews. The building has a Gothic core that was altered in later centuries, and its interior is arranged around the central Bimah, the raised platform from which the Torah is read, which has been restored. Displays include ritual objects, textiles, prayer books and photographs, as well as material explaining Jewish festivals, family customs and the quarter's development. The synagogue also bears the marks of the Second World War, when the Nazi occupiers used it as a storeroom, and the exhibition touches on the destruction of the community. A visit typically lasts 45 minutes to an hour. The façade and the surrounding Szeroka Street, with its cafes and the nearby Remuh Synagogue, offer the best photographs, taken from the open square in front. The museum is quietest on weekday mornings and busiest around midday, when walking tours of Kazimierz pass through. It is closed one weekday each week, and that day can change, so the official page at muzeumkrakowa.pl should be checked, ideally the morning of the visit. The site is a 20-minute walk from the Old Town or a short tram ride to the Starowislna stop, and it combines naturally with a stroll through the quarter.