Great Synagogue

This synagogue, true to its name, is the largest synagogue in Europe and one of the five largest synagogues in the world, capable of holding some three thousand worshippers. It is the focal point of the life of the local Jewish community, notable for its unusual architectural form, which combines the Byzantine, Romantic and Gothic style, but is mostly inspired by Moorish buildings.

The synagogue, consecrated in 1859, is not only a place of worship, but also a living reminder of the holocaust, as it stands on a street which used to be the border of a Jewish ghetto during the Second World War. Inside, there is also a museum, a cemetery and a memorial to Hungarian Jews who were killed during World War II. It has one more speciality: an organ with 5000 pipes. Famous musicians, such as Franz Liszt and Camille Saint-Saëns, or Xaver Varnus, have played it.

The synagogue remains in active use even today. During services, it is forbidden to enter in clothes which leave uncovered knees or shoulders, as well as with bags, telephones and cameras. These limitations do not apply if you visit during opening hours designated for tourists, listed below.