Josefov, Prague’s Old Jewish Quarter, lies between Old Town Square and the Vltava River. It is a small district, but its history is among the deepest and most moving in Prague.
The area is named after Emperor Joseph II, whose reforms in the late 18th century eased some restrictions on Jewish life. Before that, Josefov was the Jewish ghetto: a crowded, walled town within a town, with its own synagogues, cemetery, schools, institutions, legends and community life.
Today, only part of the old ghetto survives. Much of the district was demolished during the late 19th- and early 20th-century redevelopment of Prague. What remains is exceptionally important: synagogues, the Old Jewish Cemetery, the Jewish Town Hall, museum collections and the memory of one of Europe’s most important Jewish communities.
The Jewish Town – Josefov
Josefov is closely associated with two figures known far beyond Prague: Franz Kafka, the German-speaking Jewish writer born in Prague in 1883, and the legendary Golem, said to have been created by Rabbi Judah Loew ben Bezalel to protect the Jewish community.
The main historic sights can be walked around in one day, but a deeper visit takes longer. The Old Jewish Cemetery, Old-New Synagogue, Pinkas Synagogue, Maisel Synagogue, Spanish Synagogue and Klausen Synagogue are all worth visiting for different reasons.
The Jewish Museum in Prague is not a single museum building. It is a group of monuments and exhibitions spread through Josefov, with several synagogues, the Old Jewish Cemetery and the Robert Guttmann Gallery forming the core visitor route.
History of the Jewish Quarter
Jewish settlement in Prague dates back to the early Middle Ages. By the 11th and 12th centuries, Jewish merchants and families were already part of the city’s life, but their position was often insecure.
The Crusades brought violence and persecution to Jewish communities across Europe, including Bohemia. Over time, Prague’s Jews faced restrictions on where they could live, what work they could do, and how they could participate in civic life.
In the Middle Ages, the Jewish community was gradually concentrated in the area that later became known as the ghetto. It was separated from the surrounding Christian city by gates and walls, but inside it developed its own institutions, synagogues, schools, charitable societies and intellectual life.
The ghetto was also a centre of learning, with famous rabbis, a Talmudic tradition and Hebrew printing. In the 16th century, under Rudolf II, wealthy leaders such as Mordechai Maisel helped the community gain privileges and finance major building projects.
Joseph II and the End of the Ghetto
In the late 18th century, Emperor Joseph II introduced reforms that improved the legal position of Jews in the Habsburg lands. These reforms did not create full equality, but they eased important restrictions and helped open the way for wider social and economic life.
In 1849, the Jewish Town was incorporated into Prague and was named Josefov in honour of Joseph II.
At the end of the 19th century, most of the old ghetto was demolished during a major urban renewal project. Many narrow lanes and old houses disappeared, replaced by broad streets and new Art Nouveau apartment buildings. The surviving synagogues, cemetery and town hall are therefore especially precious.
The Nazi Era and the Jewish Museum
The Nazi occupation had a devastating effect on Jewish life in Prague and across the Czech lands. Thousands of Jewish residents were deported, many through the Terezín ghetto and concentration camp, and most did not survive.
During the war, Jewish ritual objects, books, textiles and furnishings from synagogues across Bohemia and Moravia were gathered in Prague. The Nazis planned to use them in a museum of a people they intended to destroy. This terrible context ironically helped preserve one of the largest collections of Jewish ceremonial art in Europe.
After the war, the Jewish Museum in Prague became the guardian of these collections and the memory of destroyed communities. Today its exhibitions present Jewish history, religious life, persecution, art, education and remembrance.
Jewish Museum Sites in Josefov
The main Prague Jewish Town ticket currently includes the following sites, according to the Jewish Museum in Prague:
- Old-New Synagogue – a 13th-century Gothic synagogue and the oldest active synagogue in Europe.
- Maisel Synagogue – exhibition on the history of Jews in Bohemia and Moravia.
- Pinkas Synagogue – memorial to the Jewish victims of the Shoah from the Czech lands.
- Spanish Synagogue – Moorish Revival synagogue and exhibition on Jewish history from emancipation to the modern period.
- Old Jewish Cemetery – one of the most important Jewish cemeteries in Europe, with the tomb of Rabbi Löw.
- Robert Guttmann Gallery – temporary exhibitions connected with Jewish history, culture and art.
The Klausen Synagogue remains one of the major monuments near the cemetery, but current ticket routes and exhibitions should always be checked on the official Jewish Museum website.
Old Jewish Cemetery
The Old Jewish Cemetery is one of the most powerful places in Josefov. It was founded in the first half of the 15th century, and burials continued here until 1787.
Because the Jewish community was not allowed to expand the cemetery freely, graves were layered over time. Thousands of tombstones stand close together, creating the unforgettable appearance of a crowded stone forest.
The most famous person buried here is Rabbi Judah Loew ben Bezalel, known as Rabbi Löw, who died in 1609 and is associated with the legend of the Golem.
Old-New Synagogue
The Old-New Synagogue is one of Josefov’s greatest treasures. Built in the 13th century, it is the oldest active synagogue in Europe and one of Prague’s most important Gothic buildings.
It remains the main synagogue of the Jewish community in Prague. It is also central to the Golem legend, which says that the clay creature was hidden in the attic after its work was finished.
Visitors should remember that this is not only a historic monument but also an active place of worship.
Pinkas Synagogue and the Memorial to Victims of the Shoah
The Pinkas Synagogue is one of the most moving sites in Josefov. Its walls are inscribed with the names of tens of thousands of Jewish victims of the Shoah from Bohemia and Moravia.
The synagogue also includes an exhibition of children’s drawings from Terezín, making it one of the most emotionally powerful parts of the Jewish Museum route.
Maisel and Spanish Synagogues
The Maisel Synagogue is connected with Mordechai Maisel, one of the most important figures in the history of Prague’s Jewish community. Its exhibition explains the history of Jews in Bohemia and Moravia from the early Middle Ages onward.
The Spanish Synagogue is one of the most beautiful synagogue interiors in Prague. Its richly decorated Moorish Revival interior contrasts with the older Gothic atmosphere of the Old-New Synagogue.
Ceremonial Hall Update
Older guidebooks often include the Former Ceremonial Hall as a regular exhibition venue for Jewish burial customs.
This needs updating. The Jewish Museum states that the Ceremonial Hall hosted the burial-customs exhibition from 1997 to 2024. The building is now undergoing reconstruction with the aim of restoring its original form, so visitors should not assume it is part of the standard open route in 2026.
Jubilee Synagogue
The Jubilee Synagogue, also known as the Jerusalem Synagogue, is not in Josefov. It stands near Jerusalem Street in the New Town, close to Prague’s main railway station.
It is the largest synagogue in Prague and was built in the early 20th century in a striking blend of Moorish Revival and Art Nouveau styles. It is worth visiting separately if you are interested in Jewish architecture beyond Josefov.
Mysterious Jewish Town and the Golem
Josefov has long been associated with legends, mystery and folklore. The most famous story is the legend of the Golem, a being made of clay and brought to life by Rabbi Löw to protect the Jewish Town.
According to the legend, the Golem was eventually deactivated and hidden in the attic of the Old-New Synagogue. The story is not history, but it remains one of Prague’s most powerful legends and a major part of the city’s literary and mystical image.
If you want a deeper explanation of Josefov’s history, legends and religious traditions, a guided Jewish Quarter walk can add much more context than a self-guided visit.
Kosher Food in Josefov
Josefov and nearby streets have several kosher or Jewish-style dining options, but restaurant names, certification, opening hours and Shabbat arrangements can change.
Older guidebooks mention restaurants such as Dinitz, King Solomon and Jerusalem Kosher Restaurant. Before planning a kosher meal, check current opening hours, kosher supervision and reservation requirements directly with the restaurant, especially for Fridays, Saturdays and Jewish holidays.
Opening Hours and Tickets in 2026
The Jewish Museum in Prague is generally open every day except Saturdays and Jewish holidays. The official Prague Jewish Town ticket currently lists:
- Summer opening hours: 9:00–18:00.
- Winter opening hours: 9:00–16:30.
- Closed: Saturdays and Jewish holidays.
The main Prague Jewish Town ticket includes the Old Jewish Cemetery, Old-New Synagogue, Spanish Synagogue, Maisel Synagogue, Pinkas Synagogue and temporary exhibitions in the Robert Guttmann Gallery.
Tickets can be bought online or at Jewish Museum ticket offices, including the Spanish Synagogue, Klausen Synagogue, Pinkas Synagogue, Maisel Synagogue and the Information and Reservation Centre.
Tip: Do not plan your museum visit for Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath, when the interiors are closed. Also check Jewish holiday closures before visiting.
Visiting Information
Location: Josefov, Prague 1, between Old Town Square and the Vltava River.
In Czech: Židovské město / Josefov.
Best for: Jewish Museum, Old Jewish Cemetery, Old-New Synagogue, Kafka connections, Golem legend, Jewish history and architecture.
Access: The streets of Josefov are public and free to walk through. Synagogues, cemetery and exhibitions require tickets.
Time needed: Allow at least half a day for the main Jewish Museum route; a full day is better if you want to visit slowly and include cafés, Kafka sites or a guided tour.
Getting there: Metro A to Staroměstská, then walk towards Maiselova, Široká, Pařížská and the Old Jewish Cemetery area.
Nearby sights: Old Town Square, Pařížská Street, Rudolfinum, Jan Palach Square, Vltava riverfront and Franz Kafka’s birthplace.
Official Jewish Museum visitor information: Jewish Museum in Prague – Visit.
Prague Jewish Town ticket: Prague Jewish Town Ticket.
Jewish Museum opening hours: Jewish Museum Opening Hours.
Jewish Museum admission: Jewish Museum Admission.
Old Jewish Cemetery information: Old Jewish Cemetery on Prague City Tourism.
Why Josefov Is Worth Visiting
Josefov is one of Prague’s most important historic districts. It tells the story of a community that shaped the city for centuries and endured repeated restrictions, persecution, destruction and renewal.
The surviving synagogues, cemetery, museum collections and legends make Josefov one of the most meaningful places in Prague. It is beautiful, but it is also a place of memory, loss and resilience, and it deserves to be visited with respect.
