Dolní Kounice Synagogue

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Basic information
Dolní Kounice Synagogue Synagoga v Dolních Kounicích
Northern side of the synagogue as seen from the square.
Location	Dolní Kounice, Czech Republic
Religious affiliation	Orthodox Judaism
Ecclesiastical status	Museum
Architectural description
Architectural style	Baroque
Year completed	1656. Ceased functioning during World War II.
Specifications

The first traces of Jewish settlement in Dolní Kounice (today a town in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic) are from half of 15th century. First written note comes from 1581. The old synagogue was located on eastern part of the village and was destroyed by Swedish troops during Thirty Years' War, in 1645.

A new one has been built between 1652-1656 in the middle of the new ghetto (the Jewish district of Dolní Kounice, židovská čtvrť v Dolních Kounicích).

The building, designed in Baroque style, has rectangular ground plan and two floors. At the half of 19th century new tract was added and used to extends tribune for women.

In early 1940s Nazis closed down the religious services and moved the decorations to the Jewish Museum in Prague. After the war the building was used as storehouse. In 1991 it was returned, as a part of restitutions, to the Jewish community in Brno. In 1994 the synagogues was reconstructed.

Today the synagogue also hosts small collection of Jewish historical artefacts and art exhibitions.