Description

The Dohány Street synagogue stands out as a major attraction in Budapest, renowned as Europe's largest synagogue and the second largest globally. Constructed in 1859 in the Moorish architectural style, it accommodates up to 3000 worshippers, a testament to the economic and cultural prominence of Budapest's Jewish community at the time. Designed by German architect Ludwig Förster and overseen by architect Ignác Wechselmann, who later bequeathed his wealth to the Institute of the Blind, the synagogue's interior spans 1200 square meters, with towers soaring 44 meters high. Frigyes Feszl, renowned architect of the Budapest Vigadó, contributed to the design of the inner sanctum after Förster's departure. Officially consecrated on September 6, 1859, the synagogue features 1497 seats for men and 1472 for women, offering a total seating capacity of nearly 3000. Located in Budapest's former Jewish quarter, it serves as the religious center for the Neolog Jewish community, amidst a neighborhood steeped in Holocaust history, where Dohány Street once marked the ghetto's boundary during World War II. Today, the synagogue welcomes visitors on weekdays, offering cultural events such as concerts alongside its primary function as a place of worship.

Engraver: György Szabó