Jewish Town

Situated on the east bank of the Vltava and just north of Old Town, Prague’s Jewish Quarter is a striking tribute to the solidarity and perseverance of the Jewish people. Although Judaism was established in Central Europe as early as the 10th century, its followers were discriminated throughout most of Prague’s history. Until the late 1700s, the Jews were confined to a cramped, walled ghetto which occupied most of today’s Jewish Quarter. During this time, the Jews suffered through many pogroms and a great fire in 1689. It wasn’t until 1784, under the reign of Emperor Joseph II, that the anti-Semitic oppressive laws were relaxed. It is in honor of him that the Jewish Quarter was named Josefov. The Josefov district was home to thousands of Jews living in unsanitary conditions when the ghetto was finally demolished at the close of the 19th century. During this period of urban renewal, most of the original ghetto was totally razed, except for the Jewish Town Hall, a number of synagogues, and the cemetery. Today, these remaining monuments are the only features which differentiate Josefov from Prague’s Old Town. With their similar architectural style and the same enchanting cobblestone streets, its dark history seems almost unreal.

Because it is such a popular tourist destination, the sites in Josefov are generally well-marked and easy to find. There are several box offices at which you can purchase tickets for the famous historical sites. Tickets for the Jewish Museum (the most highly visited place in the Czech Republic) include six of these major destinations: the High Synagogue, Maisel Synagogue, Pinkas Synagogue, Klausen Synagogue, Spanish Synagogue, and the Old Town Cemetery. Many of the artifacts preserved in the Jewish Museum were seized by the Nazis, who planned to make their own museum about the “extinguished” Jewish race. The Pinkas Synagogue in particular pays tribute to the estimated 80,000 Czechoslovakian Jews who were persecuted during the Holocaust. Particularly moving are the paintings done by children imprisoned in the Terezin concentration camp, and the 77,297 names inscribed on the synagogue walls in honor of those who did not return.

Along with Prague’s most popular museum, Josefov also boasts some of the best shopping. The main streets are lined with expensive designer stores, the sort you’ll find in any major city. However, if you explore just slightly beyond the beaten path you’ll discover a number of lovely boutiques with bold designs and the one-of-a-kind style you can only find in Prague. Most of these little shops sell clothes from homegrown Czech fashionistas, but there is also a fairly international mix featuring designs from places like Israel.