Great Synagogue of Europe, Main synagogue in Sablon district, Brussels, Belgium.
The Great Synagogue of Europe stands at 32 rue de la Régence in the Sablon district. Designed by Désiré De Keyser in a Romanesque-Byzantine style and built in 1878, it has a central nave and two side aisles like a basilica. The facade rises to a steep gable, with a square tower on the right; a large rose window sits in a pointed arch above round-arched windows and a balustrade. The rose window is encircled by panels bearing the names of the twelve tribes of Israel.
The building was constructed in 1878 following Belgium's official recognition of Judaism in 1831, which enabled the establishment of a permanent place of prayer for the community. This marked a turning point for Jewish life in the country.
The synagogue is the seat of the Central Israelite Consistory of Belgium and, since 4 June 2008, the official place of worship of the Conference of European Rabbis. Services are held only for the main offices, on Friday evening and Saturday morning; weekday prayers take place in a second building. The community counts about 1,000 members.
The location is active during regular prayer times and welcomes visitors interested in Belgian Jewish history. It helps to check in advance when guided tours are available and to learn about access conditions at the site.
On Rosh Hashanah, 18 September 1982, a gunman with a submachine gun opened fire inside the synagogue, seriously wounding four people; the attack was attributed to the Abu Nidal Organization. The building had survived the Holocaust, in which 25,000 Belgian Jews died.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 94,062 contributors worldwide.