Synagogue in Turnov, Synagogue in Turnov

The Synagogue in Turnov is a baroque building with a simple but solid stone and brick structure that shows the craftsmanship of its time. It has a rectangular form, small windows, and stands near the town center next to a Jewish cemetery that holds many old gravestones.

The present stone synagogue was built in 1719 on the site of a burgher's house after a fire, replacing two earlier wooden synagogues that had burned down. It served the Jewish community until 1941, when the Protectorate authorities closed it. After the war only about 19 Jews returned; the building became a warehouse from 1951 to 2003, was renovated in 2007–2008 with Norwegian funds, and reopened on 20 November 2008.

The building's prayer hall retains an arabesque-decorated ceiling and traces of a removed bimah in the centre, while wall plaques commemorate notable Jews from the surrounding region. Since 2009 it has hosted cultural and social events, with guided tours in the tourist season and occasional services.

The building sits near the town center and is easy to reach on foot, making it possible to combine a visit with other historical sites like Hrubý Rohozec castle. The exterior is always visible, though the interior is not regularly open to visitors, so it is helpful to check ahead for opening times and special events.

The Jewish cemetery is a separate site in Turnov, not adjacent to the synagogue. The synagogue itself preserves traces of a demolished bimah in the centre of the prayer hall and memorial plaques for notable Jews from the surrounding area on its walls.