The work on the Žatec synagogue is about halfway done, the facade is almost finished

Žatec – The reconstruction of the synagogue in Žatec, in the Louny region, is about halfway done. The façade is almost finished on the front and side, and work is currently focused mainly on the interior. At the same time, the builders are also renovating the adjacent building, the rabbi's house, which will serve as a base for social events held in the synagogue. However, according to the monument's owner, Daniel Černý, the work will be delayed by about six months. He stated this to ČTK today.

The second largest Jewish building in the Czech Republic, after the synagogue in Plzeň, was acquired by Černý in 2013 for a starting price of 3.6 million crowns. He bought it at an auction from the town, which had no use for it. However, the historical monument required extensive reconstruction. Construction work was finally able to begin in 2019, thanks to a European grant from the IROP program for the preservation of monuments. That same year, the reconstruction of the synagogue and the adjacent rabbi's residence began. The costs are estimated at 55 million crowns excluding VAT, with the grant making up about 47 million.

The work is now about halfway done. The monument is already adorned with decorative stained glass and a colorful façade. "The front and side façades of the synagogue are finished, it looks beautiful from the street, we took down the scaffolding about a month ago. We are replacing the windows in the rabbi's house. Inside, we are still in the rough construction phase; the main work will continue through the winter," described Černý.

Due to material shortages and problems caused by the coronavirus epidemic, the work will be delayed by about six months. Originally, completion of the building was expected by the end of next year, but the owner is now planning to reopen the synagogue in mid-2023.

"The synagogue has always been a public space. When I was buying it, I declared that it should remain a public space. I had two additional keys made; I donated one to the town of Žatec and the other to the Society of Natives and Friends of the Town of Žatec, so that they would have access to the synagogue for any cultural and social events," said the native of Žatec.

The monument will thus serve as a multifunctional cultural space, where concerts and other performances could take place. The rabbi's house is expected to provide support for organizing events in the synagogue. It is also planned to include an exhibition on the history of the Jewish community there.

The Žatec synagogue has a troubled history. It experienced an arson attack during the so-called Kristallnacht. During the war, it served as a hospital, and in the 1950s, as a civil defense warehouse. The building, with its unusual Moorish architecture, dates back to 1872 and is one of the rare structures of its kind. The synagogue is among a quartet of Žatec monuments being restored thanks to the town's nomination for the UNESCO World Heritage List.