Josefov - Prague's Jewish Quarter

The cemetery in Prague's Jewish Quarter.

With winding narrow streets and a wide array of interesting buildings, Europe's most well-preserved Jewish ghetto is by far one of the most interesting things to see in Prague. With six synagogues and arguably the most impressive cemetery of its kind, this collection of historic sites lies in the very heart of Prague and the Czech Republic, both physically and symbolically. The first establishment of Jews in this area of Prague goes back to the 13th century, when they were ordered to leave their homes and settle down in a single, concentrated place. The main landmarks that should be seen in this large complex are the cemetery shown above, the Spanish Synagogue, and the Pinkas Synagogue. Even though I did not have a chance to visit it, I have heard that the Old-New Synagogue is also worth a visit due to its impressive Gothic architecture and its significance as the religious center for Prague's Jewish community.

The cemetery, which is part of the Jewish Museum, has over 12,000 visible tombstones, yet has an estimated 100,000 buried. The ramshackle way in which the graves are arranged adds even more to the intrigue of this site which was even spared by the Nazi occupation in order to keep it as a future museum of an "extinct culture". 

Unfortunately, photography was prohibited inside of the synagogues, so here goes another picture of the cemetery.

The Spanish Synagogue is also a must-see. Some even call it the most beautiful synagogue in all of Europe. With an almost Islamic architectural style, this synagogue truly stands out. But regardless of what others may say, my favorite synagogue to visit has to be the Pinkas Synagogue. It is remarkable in that it is home to about 80,000 inscriptions of the names of the Czech victims of the Holocaust. Sorted first by town, then by last name, and lastly by first name, it is amazing to see how many people within certain families were victim to this terrible event. The way in which all the writings on the walls look like golden paint from a distance really makes you think about the enormous number of people that died. 

A statue of Frank Kafka outside of the Jewish Museum.