As the second-oldest synagogue in Slovakia, Stupava Synagogue is of significant cultural value to Jewish heritage in central Europe. Built in 1803 for a community that traces its origins to the seventeenth century, local lore states that the structure was constructed by the local community and inspired by the Great Subur Synagogue in Lviv, Ukraine. (...)
As the second-oldest synagogue in Slovakia, Stupava Synagogue is of significant cultural value to Jewish heritage in central Europe. Built in 1803 for a community that traces its origins to the seventeenth century, local lore states that the structure was constructed by the local community and inspired by the Great Subur Synagogue in Lviv, Ukraine. As in Lviv, Stupava Synagogue was raided by the Nazis during World War II, but unlike many other Jewish sites of worship, it largely survived the attack.
The synagogue’s envelope is rectangular, with austere façades topped by a steeply pitched, saddleback roof. On the interior, nine vaulted bays are supported by four columns that flank the bimah, or raised platform, from which the Torah is read. The ceiling retains much of its original painted decoration, and some inscriptions are still visible in the central sanctuary. On the exterior, tall gables are punctuated by small oval windows—a typical architectural feature in the Záhorie region—while the remaining walls feature simple, baroque-inspired windows.
