The reconstruction of the Žatec synagogue is ongoing, and it is already adorned with decorative stained glass

Zatec – The second largest Jewish structure in the Czech Republic, the synagogue in Zatec in the Louny region, is already adorned with decorative stained glass. The reconstruction of the almost 150-year-old building will last about another year and a half, having started last June. In addition to the synagogue, the builders are also renovating the neighboring rabbi's residence. The work will cost approximately 55 million crowns. Once completed, the synagogue will serve as a multifunctional cultural space. Today, the owner of the heritage site, Daniel Cerny, who purchased the building at auction, told CTK.

Approximately 3.6 million crowns was the starting price for the historical object, which will soon offer cultural events not only to local residents. The exterior will correspond to the original structure from the 19th century, while the interior spaces will be more modern. Part of the interiors will feature an exhibition about the history of the Jewish community in Zatec.

According to Cerny, it is still unclear what exhibition will open the synagogue. "This year, we will begin creating the content for the exhibitions, and I believe there's still time to choose the right opening exhibition," said the owner. He added that he does not rule out hosting Jewish weddings and is open to events from the city and associations of native residents and friends of Zatec.

However, renovating the heritage site is not easy also because many machines cannot access the historic center. The narrow streets do not allow for the entrance of trucks or the establishment of temporary storage spaces. "So we are doing it the old-fashioned way, basically everything by hand," project leader Daniel Lipert told CTK today. All construction modifications must be consulted with heritage conservators. According to Lipert, for example, materials based on cement are not used, but rather lime-based materials.

"Currently, we have completed the desalination of the masonry, where we needed to eliminate the presence of salinity. We have created electroosmosis, demolished the ceiling structures that were attacked by wood-destroying fungi, and new ceiling structures have already been built," Lipert described the work already completed. The builders are now working on the reconstruction of the synagogue's ceilings, and according to Lipert, the restoration repairs are approximately halfway done.

One of the most difficult tasks was the dismantling of the ceiling structures, which were significantly damaged. The builders were concerned about the possibility of the ceiling collapsing during dismantling and injuring someone. An average of up to 30 people work on the construction site daily.

The Zatec synagogue has a tumultuous 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.

Zatec has the second largest preserved synagogue in the Czech Republic after Plzen. The building, characterized by unusual Moorish architecture, dates back to 1872 and is one of the unique structures of its kind. The synagogue is among four Zatec heritage sites being restored thanks to the city's candidacy for the UNESCO World Heritage list. The construction schedule anticipates the completion of the reconstruction by the end of 2022.