Central Sofia Synagogue

The Sofia Synagogue is the biggest synagogue in Southeastern Europe and the third-largest in Europe. It is one of two synagogues in Bulgaria (the other being in Plovdiv).

It was built for the requirements of Sofia’s predominantly Sephardic Jewish population following a scheme by Austrian architect Friedrich Grünanger, and it was formally inaugurated on 9 September 1909 in the presence of Tsar Ferdinand I of Bulgaria. It mimics the ancient Moorish Leopoldstädter Tempel in Vienna. The earliest plans for the synagogue’s construction were made in 1903, and work began on November 13, 1905. The restructuring efforts of the Bulgarian Jewish community, led by Lemberg-born Chief Rabbi Marcus Ehrenpreis and local leaders Ezra Tadjer and Avram Davidjon Levy, included the building of a large new synagogue. An earlier synagogue occupied the land in downtown Sofia prior to the building of the present synagogue.

The synagogue, one of Sofia’s architectural landmarks, can seat 1,300 worshipers and is situated near the Central Market Hall in the city’s heart. The main chandelier of the Sofia Synagogue weighs 1.7 tons and is the country’s biggest.

Despite the grandeur of the edifice, the services are usually only attended by 50 to 60 worshipers owing to the aliyah of most Bulgarian Jews to Israel and the local Jewish population’s secularism.

The architecture is mostly Moorish Revival, with aspects of the Vienna Secession and Venetian architecture on the exterior. The main premise is 20 meters in diameter and 31 meters tall. An octagonal dome crowns the structure. The inside is lavishly ornamented, with Carrara marble columns and Venetian mosaics in a variety of colors, as well as beautiful woodcarving. The total area of the structure is 659 m2. The Balkans’ largest chandelier sits there, and legend has it that it is made of gold from ancient Palestine.

The Jewish Museum of History, which contains exhibits on the Jewish Communities in Bulgaria, the Holocaust, and the Rescue of the Jews in Bulgaria, has been housed at the Sofia Synagogue since May 8, 1992.

From 9:00 a.m. to 13:30 and from 14:00 to 16:30, it is open Monday through Friday. People under the age of 18 are granted access to the museum for free, and the admission includes a guided tour in many languages. The Mosque, the Catholic Church and the Sveta Nedelya Eastern Christian Orthodox cathedral, are all within a few blocks of one other. The Square of Tolerance is the moniker given to this part of town because of the unique concentration of four functional religious facilities. The Sofia Synagogue has a temple, a library, a museum where you may learn more about Jewish customs and traditions, and a gift store.

Located in one of the city’s busiest areas, the Synagogue’s neighborhood has a distinct Oriental vibe. The Women’s Market, important tourist attractions, and government and public buildings are all close, as are several small stores and fast food restaurants. The city’s bus and train terminals are less than a 30-minute walk away, and the city’s tram and Metro systems are well-served.

Entrance for visitors: 5 BGN