Židovské suburbium Bardejov
A preservation of the Old Synagogue – heritage of our ancestors
Bardejov, Slovakia, January 20, 2015 – The Old Synagogue in Bardejov, the most significant part of the local Jewish Heritage, will be reconstructed after more than 70 years. The Central Union Of Jewish Religious Communities in the Slovak Republic received grants from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA financial mechanism, and from The State Budget Of The Slovak Republic, for this purpose. This project has been allocated 522 203€. The project is called “Bardejovské suburbium – Rescue, Recovery and Restoration of the Old Synagogue (CLT01001)” and was approved within the program “SK05 – Protection and Revitalization of Cultural Heritage”. The synagogue will be restored to its original form at the latest in April of the following year.
The main aim of the project is to return life to the Old Synagogue. Comprehensive renovations will enable multi-functional use of space, which has the potential to serve societal-cultural, entertaining and educational purposes. Enduring memories of the history and culture of the Jewish community in Bardejov ensure new-created exposure at Female Gallery (Empore). The new findings about the Synagogue will bring the memoir or other promotional materials. The Old Synagogue, which is dated to the early 19th century, is situated in the middle of complex ritual Jewish buildings (the Jewish suburbium). Particular significance of this complex confirm its inclusion on the List of World Cultural and Natural Heritage UNESCO. The uniqueness of synagogue lies in its nine-vaulting structure. The interior is dominated by rich ornamental painting in a Moorish style. The most interesting artifact is the dedicatory panel, carrying poetic text about the founders of the synagogue. On the technical condition of the synagogue were signed decades of a destructive behaviors and inappropriate use of the term totalitarian regimes.
Refurbishment will consist of stabilisation, skirting portions of the inner plasters, as well as a thorough restoration and retouching of the paintings. In the next stage will be the restored historic door, or a made replica of the original door, including the fittings, frames and keys. After installing new electrical cross-connecting frames will be mounted wooden floors. Entry into the Women´s Gallery will allow the construction of a replica of the outer stairway. Simultaneously the original flooring will also be restored. In the exterior will be implemented fixation runners, outside façade restoration, and repair and renewal of the crown cornice and the original sundial. Thankfully the renovated Synagogues and the new Holocaust Memorial will restore authentic genius loci of the religious and cultural center which was once the sixth most important Jewish community in the Slovak Republic. The Old Synagogue restoration project also strengthens the relationship to our joint cultural heritage.
