Belfort Synagogue, Synagogue in Belfort, France

Belfort Synagogue stands at 6, rue de l'As-de-Carreau, built in 1857 to designs by Léon Jossier and Aristide Poisat in the Byzantine Revival style. Its steep gabled facade of reddish stone is laid in alternating rough and smooth bands, flanked by two lower square wings capped with silver-grey domes. A tall pale-stone range on the right has tall arched windows framed by rounded moldings, and a pale yellow metal fence with vertical bars between stone piers encloses the front.

A first synagogue stood here from 1830, a few hundred metres from the present building; it was demolished because it was enclosed within military land. The current synagogue was built after fifty heads of families bought the plot on 8 August 1852, and it was inaugurated in 1857, designed by Léon Jossier and Aristide Poisat. It was listed as a monument historique on 18 October 1983.

Worship follows the Ashkenazi rite, brought by Alsatian "Optants" who left German Alsace after 1871 with their liturgy, Torah binders (mappot) and culinary habits. Since the communities of Montbéliard, Héricourt and Giromagny have closed, services are now held here. The synagogue also opens to the public for occasional cultural events.

The building sits in the town center and is easy to reach on foot while exploring the area. Since it remains an active place of worship, visitors should check opening hours in advance and dress respectfully when entering.

The synagogue's clock, made by the Alsatian firm Ungerer around the 1860s, was abandoned when the clocks were electrified in the 1930s. It has recently been restored and is now part of the town's Jewish heritage. The bronze light fittings carry the emblem of Hiram, the architect of King Solomon's Temple, and golden griffins.