One of the most fascinating features Prague has to offer is the rich history and culture of the Old Jewish Quarter. The former Jewish ghetto was located in the Old Town near the streets of Kaprova, Dlouha, and Kozi. Unfortunately, this area was destroyed by the Nazis during the second World War, but the Quarter has begun to flourish again in recent years.

A Fascinating History

In the 1930s, approximately 50,000 Jews lived in the Jewish Quarter in Prague. When the Nazis reigned in the Europe, there were only a few thousand Jews left in the Quarter. An area that was once previously devastated by the Crusades in the 11th century was nearly destroyed again by the Nazis. In fact, only 10 percent of Jews living in the Quarter survived the Nazi regime. Most of the Jews were sent to the prison camp of Terezin, which is located about 60 kilometers north-west of Prague.

Some famous sights in the Jewish Quarter include the many synagogues the area has to offer, including the Ceremonial Hall, the Old-New Synagogue, the Pinkas Synagogue, the Maisel Synagogue, and the Spanish Synagogue.

Another fascinating place to visit in the Jewish Quarter is the old Jewish cemetery. The cemetery is home to topsy-turvy gravestones crammed closely beside one another, as well as layer upon layer of bodies heaped on top of one another beneath the soil. The strange layering of the bodies accounts for the twists and turns of the headstones and the odd layout of the cemetery, which is one of the most interesting and curious places to visit in Prague.

Visitors wishing to learn more about their heritage or simply more about a different culture should plan a visit to the Old Jewish Quarter when in Prague. The area is rich with beautiful synagogues, museums, and historical buildings that reveal a bit more about the Jewish people who lived there. The area has been home to much strife in past years from the devastation of the Nazis, yet the area has changed from its former ghetto origins to a community better suited for tourism and learning.