The Maisel Synagogue has not been active since 1955 and since then, it has been under the Jewish Museum in Prague. You will find a modern-style permanent exhibition tracing the history of Czech Jews from the 10th to the 18th centuries. The exhibit includes a unique video projection a film rendition of Langweil’s model of Prague from the 19th century, which is otherwise on view at the Museum of Prague at Florenc. Visitors thus have a chance to acquaint themselves with the mazy streets of the original Jewish ghetto, defunct synagogues, old Jewish houses from before the clearance of the ghetto, which took place between the 19th and 20th centuries.
Once the biggest and most spectacular building in the Prague Jewish ghetto, it bears the name of its founder, the preeminent leader of the Jewish Town and Emperor Rudolf II’s Court Jew, Mordecai Meisel. In 1591, Meisel got a special prerogative from the emperor to build this synagogue. During Mordecai Meisel’s lifetime, the synagogue served solely as a family prayer house, becoming open to the public only after his death. The final service in the synagogue was held in 1941.
The Maisel Synagogue underwent several reconstructions in its history. The originally Renaissance building nearly burned down in 1689. It had to be made smaller and even the entrance was originally where altar is located today. The synagogue got its current Neo-Gothic appearance during renovations at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries, during the aforementioned ghetto clearance.
It is also possible to visit this synagogue with our guides during the private tour of Jewish Quarter, in order to learn much more about the history of Czech Jews, their traditions and daily life.
Good to know
The ticket to the Maisel Synagogue cannot be purchased separately. It can only be visited with a ticket that also includes entry to the Spanish Synagogue, the Pinkas Synagogue, and the Old Jewish Cemetery. Like the other sites of the Jewish Museum, it is open every day except Saturday.
