Great Synagogue (Győr)

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Outside
inside view
dome

The Great Synagogue ( Hungarian győri zsinagóga ) in the Hungarian city ​​of Győr is a former Jewish synagogue and is now used as a conference and cultural center.

history

The neo-Romanesque building with an octagonal floor plan according to the plans of the architect Jakob Modern was built from 1868 to 1870 under the direction of Károly Benkó. In the first 50 years of existence, the congregation grew to over 5,500 members, which made it necessary to expand.

In 1925 a competition was announced, which was won by the Budapest engineer Dávid Jónás. However, only the cheapest proposal from Pittel und Brausewetter AG could be implemented. Church services could already be held again in the summer of 1926; However, the final work dragged on until November 1927.

After the deportation of countless European Jews in World War II , it was consecrated in 1946 a second time. As the number of parishioners had fallen from 5,700 to 780, the church began to decline because not enough funds could be raised.

In 1968 the city of Győr bought the building and used it as an office and warehouse. In 1973, some areas of the Franz Liszt College moved into the synagogue.

The first restoration measures were taken in the 1980s. In 1994/95 the facade was thoroughly restored. Interior restoration - the first since the synagogue was founded - began in 2004. It has served as a cultural venue since 1990.

architecture

The synagogue is located at Kossuth Lajos utca 5 in the Újváros new town district on the western bank of the Raab . The main facade, which often served as a model for European synagogues of late historicism throughout Europe, is flanked by two towers, which are themselves provided with domes. A large round window belongs to the facade.

The two-storey interior is dominated by a magnificent dome. Its diameter is 14 meters, and its apex is 30 meters above the floor. Torah shrine, chandelier and other furnishings were made in Vienna ; local craftsmen were brought in for carving, stone carving and glass painting. In addition to the stars of David, the decorations mainly contain ornamental works. There are 400 seats.

literature

  • Rudolf Klein : Zsinagógák Magyarországon 1782–1918: fejlődéstörténet, tipológia és építészeti jelentőség / Synagogues in Hungary 1782–1918. Genealogy, Typology and Architectural Significance . TERC, Budapest 2011, ISBN 978-963-9968-01-1 , pp. 311-318. (not evaluated)

Web links

Commons : Great Synagogue  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Coordinates: 47 ° 41 ′ 8.3 "  N , 17 ° 37 ′ 33.2"  E