Old Synagogue, Kraków, Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

The Old Synagogue on Szeroka Street in Kazimierz, Kraków, is widely regarded as the oldest surviving synagogue building in Poland. It dates to the 15th century and today houses a museum of the history and traditions of Kraków's Jews, run as a branch of the Historical Museum of the City of Kraków.

The story behind it

Kazimierz was a separate town beside Kraków before it was absorbed by the city, and Szeroka, the long, wide street in front of the synagogue, was the heart of its Jewish quarter. The synagogue began as a Gothic building in the 15th century. After a fire in the 16th century it was rebuilt in Renaissance style, and the Italian architect Matteo Gucci is credited with the work, including the decorative parapet along the roofline.

The building suffered badly during the Second World War, when the German occupiers looted it and put it to other uses. It was restored after the war and now serves as a museum. A local story told about the square concerns a baker named David and an orphan named Chana, whose wedding feast on Szeroka ran so late into a Friday night that it disturbed the Sabbath. In the tale, a storm punished the guests. It is a legend and should be taken as one, but it gives the square a good bit of folklore.

What to look for

• The Renaissance parapet at the top of the walls, which contrasts with the older Gothic bulk of the building beneath it.
• The wide, open shape of Szeroka itself, which feels more like a long green square than a street and shows how central this spot was to the quarter.
• Inside the museum, the bimah, the raised reading platform in the middle of the prayer hall, surrounded by ornate wrought ironwork.
• The nearby Remuh Synagogue and its old cemetery at the other end of the square, which give context to what you see here.

Tips for your visit

• Allow 30 to 45 minutes for the museum, and a little more if you want to stroll around Szeroka and the neighbouring streets.
• Morning is usually quieter, and the light on the facade is pleasant earlier in the day. Check current opening hours before you go, as the museum keeps its own schedule.
• You can go inside the museum. Dress modestly and be respectful, since this was and remains a place of memory.
• Kazimierz is easy to cover on foot from the Main Square. Cafés and restaurants line Szeroka, so it is a natural place to pause.

See it on a quest

The Old Synagogue is one stop on Jewish District Krakow: Magic of Past & Present, a self-guided walk through Kazimierz. You reach the square on foot as part of a longer route through the district, the app tells you about each place when you arrive, and you solve a puzzle based on what is in front of you. It is a paid quest, and one ticket covers the whole group. You can start whenever you like, with no guide and no group to join.