Modern period, 1887
Plovdiv Synagogue
The Zion Synagogue in Plovdiv, one of the few preserved synagogues in Bulgaria.
Story of the place
How to read this place
Hidden in a courtyard of the old Jewish quarter, the Zion Synagogue is one of only two still-active synagogues in Bulgaria, its little dome a burst of Moorish colour.
- Present building
- 1892
- Hall
- 12 × 12 m
- Community since
- ≈ 1710
The Jewish quarter
The congregation dates to about 1710 (the Jeshurun synagogue), and Jews expelled from Aragon in 1492 had already settled in ancient Philippopolis. The present building was completed in 1892, after the Liberation, in the Orta Mezar quarter (today Tsar Kaloyan Street 13).
Source trail: Wikipedia — Plovdiv Synagogue ↗Moorish colour under a dome
The synagogue is in the Ottoman-Balkan style, with a 12-by-12 m hall and a richly painted central dome. Every surface is covered in Moorish geometric designs in once-bright greens and blues; a Venetian glass chandelier hangs from the dome, and a gilded Aron-ha-Kodesh holds the Torah scrolls.
Source trail: Wikipedia — Plovdiv Synagogue ↗A living congregation
This is one of only two active synagogues in Bulgaria. Before the Second World War the Jewish quarter numbered about 7,000 people. The building was restored in 2003 with the support of the U.S. Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad and the Hanadiv Foundation. Friday and holiday services are held, and visits are arranged in advance.
Source trail: Wikipedia — Plovdiv Synagogue ↗Dating
1887
Source trail: Wikipedia — Plovdiv Synagogue ↗Architect/builder
not identified in the current public source
Source trail: Wikipedia — Plovdiv Synagogue ↗Current status
Publicly documented religious building or religious site in Plovdiv.
Open map ↗Public Wikidata record
synagogue in Plovdiv, Bulgaria
- Type
- synagogue
- Inception
- 1887
Traces and evidence
-
Description and historical context for Plovdiv Synagogue.
Source trail: Wikipedia — Plovdiv Synagogue ↗ -
Coordinates for Plovdiv Synagogue.
Source trail: Coordinates (Wikidata) · Plovdiv Synagogue ↗ -
Media and license for Plovdiv Synagogue: Synagogue in Plovdiv D.jpg.
Source trail: Wikimedia Commons — Synagogue in Plovdiv D.jpg ↗
Current status
Publicly documented religious building or religious site in Plovdiv.
Ownership, care and institutions
The public record used here does not identify a traceable ownership or management history. This page therefore shows only verified institutional and source links.
Connected people
No people are linked in the current knowledge base.
Visit and orientation
- Coordinates
- 42.15056, 24.74083 · wikidata_coordinate
- Built/date
- 1887
- Architect/builder
- not identified in the current public source
Full event stream
No separate events are linked to this place.
No separate events are present for this place in the current knowledge base; use the public record, sources and description.
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No separate archive or then/now record is available for this place yet. The main image, coordinates and sources remain published.