Great Synagogue, Moorish Revival synagogue in Constanța, Romania.
The Great Synagogue is a Moorish Revival synagogue in Constanța, located at 2 C.A. Rosetti Street with three stories and decorative interior elements. Three naves divided by columns create the main prayer space within the structure.
Construction took place between 1910 and 1914, replacing an earlier synagogue that occupied the same site from 1867 to 1872. This rebuild reflected the Jewish community's growth and development in the city during the early 1900s.
The synagogue served the Ashkenazi community, while the Sephardic Temple on Mircea Street served Sephardic and Romaniote Jews until its demolition under Ceaușescu. The Great Synagogue's Moorish Revival exterior, with arched windows and doors, contrasts with traditional Jewish decorations inside. After the 2026 reopening, the local mufti attended the ceremony alongside the Israeli ambassador and Romanian officials.
The synagogue reopened in May 2026 after restoration completed in March 2026, so the ruin described in older guides no longer applies. It stands at 2 C. A. Rosetti Street, at the corner of Petru Rareș Street, and is back on the tourist circuit. Check opening times before visiting and dress respectfully, as it remains a place of worship.
The abandoned building was "ransacked of anything not nailed down", and a tree grew in the middle of the sanctuary while most stained-glass windows were smashed. In 2019 an unauthorized lingerie photo shoot inside caused an outcry among the local Jewish community and in Israel. The 15.7 million lei restoration, completed in March 2026, removed these traces.
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