Synagogue in Ząbkowice Śląskie

The building at 13 Dolnośląska Street in Ząbkowice Śląskie is a former synagogue, built between 1858 and 1860. Today it houses flats and a shop on the ground floor; its original religious function and much of its architecture have been lost.

Construction and opening

The synagogue was built by the carpenter Julius Glatzer. The official opening took place on 20 July 1860, with the participation of the Wrocław rabbi Abraham Geiger. Until 1880 the plot belonged to the Glatzer family, who leased the building to the local Jewish community. Later the community became the owner of the synagogue.

Architecture

The brick building has a rectangular form in the Neo-Gothic style. The facade is crossed by three storeys of windows: the two lower ones with semicircular openings, the third with round ones. A cornice tops the whole.

Kristallnacht and post-war history

On the night of 9 to 10 November 1938, Nazi paramilitaries devastated the synagogue's interior. The closeness of the neighbouring buildings made it impossible to set it on fire, which saved the structure from complete destruction. After the war the building was converted into flats with a shop on the ground floor, a function it still serves today, and the original architecture has largely disappeared.

Practical information

• Address: 13 Dolnośląska Street in Ząbkowice Śląskie, formerly Niederstraße 9.
• The building is privately owned residential and commercial property; the interior is not open for visiting.
• The former synagogue can be viewed from the outside while walking through the centre of Ząbkowice Śląskie.