The Jewish Quarter

The Jewish community was founded in the latter years of the 11th century and Jews were never allowed to expand beyond this small quarter called Josefov, named after Emperor Josef II. Fire in 1689 and subsequent demolition left only six synagogues, the Ceremonial Hall, the Town Hall and the Old Jewish Cemetery. In the days leading to the genocide of the Jews by the Nazis in World War II, the treasures of numerous synagogues in Bohemia were brought to Prague for safekeeping, in order that a museum might be founded to document an extinct race after German victory. The collection is now managed by the Jewish Museum, which oversees several museums housed in the synagogues of Josefov - Old Jewish Cemetery, Spanish Synagogue, Pinkas Synagogue, Old-New Synagogue, Old-New Synagogue, High Synagogue, Jewish Town Hall and Klausen Synagogue.

Location: Josefov; to reach Josefov you can easily walk from Old Town Square down the Pařížská, which is just beside Church of St Nicholas

Jewish Tours in Prague

When it comes to Jewish tours of Prague there are two main companies that most people choose to use: Precious Legacy Tours and Wittman Tours. Both are discussed below to give a good idea which is best for the individual tourist’s tastes.

Kafka's Prague

"This little mother has claws." Franz Kafka spent most of his life in Prague, even though he always felt like a stranger there - a German speaking Jew in a predominately Czech Catholic town.