The Great Synagogue, located on Dohany Street in Budapest, is the world’s second large synagogue. Often considered a Jewish cathedral, the massive structure features a very unique design and a fascinating history.
Famed architect Christian Ludwig Forster planned the synagogue with a commitment to the utilization of architectural tendencies found in Asian and Arab structures. Experts subsequently considered the 3,000-seat Dohany Street Jewish cathedral’s final design as an example of Moorish Revival architecture.
The Jewish cathedral’s story echoes the overarching themes Europe’s twentieth century history. Nazi sympathizers bombed the synagogue prior to World War II and the building rests on the line that served as the border of Budapest’s Jewish ghetto. During the war, the Germans utilized the cathedral as a radio base.
Subsequent World War II, the Great Synagogue slowly slid into disrepair, neglected by the Hungarian Communist leadership. In the 1990s, communism lost its grip on Hungary and Budapest made a dedicated and successful effort to restore the Jewish cathedral.