Synagoge Kobersdorf, 19th century synagogue in Kobersdorf, Austria
Synagoge Kobersdorf is a rectangular neo-Romanesque building with round-arched forms and a gabled roof, erected in 1860. Its three-bay main hall is carried by four heavy corner piers and covered by a spherical vault, with the Torah ark set into the east side. A women's gallery runs horseshoe-shaped around three sides of the hall and also covers the vestibules to the west. The interior measures about 200 m² and seats up to 140 people.
The building was constructed in 1860 as a gathering place for the Jewish community and served religious and social functions until 1938. After the Nazi regime took power, the Jewish population departed, and the building lost its religious purpose.
Since its reopening on 26 April 2022, the synagogue has run a programme centred on Jewish everyday life, including festivals and food customs. It also offers guided walks through Jewish Kobersdorf and serves as a meeting and remembrance place for Shoah survivors and their families; almost 5,000 people attended events in 2022. In summer 2023 an exhibition titled "Für das Kind" covered the rescue of Jewish children from Vienna to Britain in 1938/1939.
The building is open to visitors but requires advance reservation and follows special opening hours, particularly during Kobersdorf Castle Festival performances. It is helpful to check current visiting conditions and availability before planning a visit.
A memorial stands beside the building honoring 219 people displaced or murdered from this place, unveiled in 2017. This commemorative marker connects the location's architecture directly to a pivotal period in regional history.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 94,004 contributors worldwide.