Jüdisches Kulturmuseum, Augsburg
Augsburg Synagogue from above. Photo
Alois Wüst.
Facade of the synagogue and museum. Photo © Andrew Huff.
Glimpse of the dome from the back side. Photo © Andrew Huff.
Side view. Photo
Alois Wüst.
Location map and aerial view of Jüdisches Kulturmuseum. For a larger interactive view, see our Augsburg Map.
The Jüdisches Kulturmuseum (Jewish Culture Museum) of Augsburg traces the history of Jewish communities in the area and includes a tour of Augsburg's main synagogue (1917), an Art Nouveau building with a central dome.
History
Thanks to an ambiguous political position on the outskirts of the Habsburg empire, Augsburg and the surrounding area hosted thriving Jewish communities in the 19th century. In 1914, Augsburg's Jewish community hired the architects Lömpel and Landauer to build a grand synagogue in the city center. Built in the Art Nouveau style, it was completed in 1917.
Tragically, the Jewish community in Augsburg was wiped out on Kristallnacht (November 9, 1938) and the synagogue was burned, though not destroyed. The post-war Jewish community remained very small until just the last few decades.
Beginning in the 1980s, immigrants from the former Soviet Union have now brought the Jewish population up to about 1600 - higher than it was before the Holocaust. After years of restoration work, the Augsburg Synagogue reopened in 1985, along with the new Jewish Culture Museum.
What to See
The Jüdisches Kulturmuseum displays artifacts and artwork from the Jewish community of Augsburg and surrounding areas, including beautiful ritual objects crafted by Augsburg goldsmiths and silversmiths.
The museum ends at the synagogue itself, a Byzantine-influenced Art Nouveau structure. It is built on a central plan with a shallow dome decorated in gold.
Quick Facts
Site Information |
| Names: | Jüdisches Kulturmuseum |
| Location: | Augsburg, Bavaria, Germany |
| Categories: | Museums; Synagogues |
| Faith: | Judaism |
| Status: | museum |
| Date: | 1913-17; burned 1938; reopened 1985 |
| Architect: | Lömpel and Landauer |
| Architecture: | Art Nouveau |
Visitor Information |
| Coordinates: | 48.365368° N, 10.892923° E (view on Google Maps) |
| Hours: | Tue, Thu-Fri: 9am-4pm Wed: 9am-8pm Sun: 10am-5pm Closed Saturdays. |
| Cost: | €4 |
Travel Resources
- Augsburg Map - our detailed interactive map of Augsburg, plus hand-picked links to more
- Augsburg Guided Tours - book sightseeing tours and activities in Augsburg
- Augsburg Hotels - check availability, maps, photos and reviews, then book at the guaranteed lowest rate
- Augsburg Hostels - reserve budget lodgings with no booking fees
- Augsburg Restaurant Reviews - the best places to eat in town
- Augsburg Travel Forum - tips, answers and advice on Augsburg tourism
Article Sources
Article written by Holly Hayes with reference to the following sources:
- Synagogue and Jewish Museum - City of Augsburg
- The Rough Guide to Germany 7 (July 2009), 387.
Article last updated: 10/11/2009.
