The Old Synagogue Kazimierz District Kraków Poland Postcard

This postcard features the Old Synague in the Kazimierz District in Krakow, Poland. In Yiddish, it is known as the Alta Shul and it was constructed between 1407 and 1492. It is the oldest synagogue still standing in Poland. In 1530, under the watchful eye of architect, Mateo Gucci, it was rebuilt to include thick masonry walls with heavy buttressing to withstand siege, a feature borrowed from military architecture. The Old synagogue is a rare, surviving example of a Polish Fortress synagogue. During WW2, the synagogue was devastated and ransacked by the Germans who looted its art and relics. During the occupation, Alta Shul was used as a warehouse. In 1943, 30 Polish hostages were executed at its walls. The Old Synagogue was renovated from 1956 to 1959 and currently operates as a museum. Photo credit: Allie Caulfield, 2009. Enjoy your new The Old Synagogue Kazimierz District Kraków Poland Postcard!