The restoration of the old synagogue in Velké Meziříčí will take another two years

Velké Meziříčí – By October, another part of the restoration of the old synagogue in Velké Meziříčí in the Žďár region should be completed. This includes the uncovering of the original decoration of the anteroom, new interior plaster, or the preservation of the eastern hall of the auditorium and the renovation of the entrance portal. The restoration work is being carried out by Pavel Procházka. This year's costs were about a million crowns, said architect Jaroslav Klenovský on behalf of the owner, who has been dedicated to the care of Jewish monuments for a long time. The synagogue is owned by the Jewish community of Brno. The restoration of the monument is expected to be completed in 2026.

"Currently, work is being done on the aron, the front wall, and the entrance area of the synagogue, where we did a full uncovering of the vault. Interestingly, two roses, painted rosettes, typical more for the Renaissance than for the Baroque, were found there. Yet we are in a Baroque building," Procházka told ČTK, who has been dedicating four years to the renewal of the synagogue's decoration.

The synagogue is adorned with texts from the Torah, as well as plant and animal motifs. On the front wall with the aron (Ark of the Covenant), there was probably an illusionistic baldachin that was meant to cover its wooden part. All decoration was hidden under a white coating just a few years ago. Investigation suggested that preserved decoration might be beneath it. According to Procházka, its richness was somewhat anticipated. "Because Moravian synagogues are painted more than the Czech ones. It is a Polish influence; painters came here directly from Poland," Procházka explained. The most challenging part of the restoration was uncovering the original decorations. With a scalpel in hand, it was necessary to clean about 500 square meters of ceilings and walls.

The synagogue was adapted for the needs of the Velké Meziříčí Museum in 1995 and 1996, turning it into an exhibition hall. However, the museum no longer utilizes the synagogue, which had a significant problem with moisture. Its further renovation began about five years ago. "First, we had to do the dehumidification of the plinth section of the wall; then we did the stone floor, and later we restored the staircase to the women's gallery. We started these construction works in 2019 and have been slowly working on the restoration of the interior decoration since 2021," Klenovský said.

The intention is to complete the restoration of the synagogue by the end of 2026. Its future use has not yet been decided. However, it could be open for public tours, and a smaller exhibition about the history and monuments of the Velké Meziříčí Jewish community is to be created in the women's gallery.

The old synagogue, built at the end of the 17th century, was used by Jews until 1870, when a new synagogue was built nearby. The original building then served as a storage facility. No images of its ornate interior have survived. By then, the original decoration and the dismantled Ark and pulpit had already been painted over. Its new appearance will need to be derived, according to Klenovský, from preserved architectural plans, archaeological surveys, and analogies with other synagogues. "We have already succeeded in doing this at the synagogue in Polici near Jemnice, and we hope that we will be able to do it here as well," Klenovský added. The renovated Baroque synagogue in Polici in the Třebíč region was opened to the public in 2020.

Jews have lived in Velké Meziříčí since about the 15th century. In the mid-19th century, they made up approximately a quarter of the population of the five-thousand-strong town. Most of the local Jews were murdered by the Nazis in concentration camps by 1942. After the war, about seven returned, according to the city's website.