Muzeum – Zespół Synagogalny we Włodawie

About the museum

The museum occupies a complex of three buildings that belonged to the kahal (Jewish community) of Włodawa. The complex is unique in Poland, and since 1983 the buildings have housed the museum.

The Great Synagogue was built in 1764–1774 in the late Baroque style, partly thanks to support from the Czartoryski family, owners of Włodawa. A fire in 1934 destroyed the wooden fittings, so of the original decoration only the neo-Baroque Torah ark (aron ha-kodesz) from 1936 has survived. The Little Synagogue, mentioned in sources from 1782–1786, served as a house of prayer and a place for studying the Torah and the Talmud; wooden cupboards from the men’s hall survive from its fittings. The Dom Pokahalny (Post-Kahal House), built in 1928, was the seat of the community board and the library.

In the Great Synagogue only exhibitions devoted to Jewish culture are shown; in the Little Synagogue the multicultural history of the town and the ethnography of the region; and in the third building ethnological exhibitions. The museum also runs the “Zachęta” cinema, educational activities and festivals.

Highlights

• Great Synagogue from 1764–1774 with a neo-Baroque Torah ark from 1936
• Little Synagogue with an exhibition on the multicultural history of the town
• Dom Pokahalny from 1928
• Induction loop and lift in the Little Synagogue
• “Zachęta” cinema and educational walks around the town

Permanent exhibitions

• Wystawy judaików w Wielkiej Synagodze – The Great Synagogue hosts only exhibitions devoted to Jewish culture, in order to preserve the atmosphere of the historic interior.
• Wielokulturowa historia miasta i etnografia regionu – Exhibition in the Little Synagogue on the history of Włodawa as a town of many cultures, and on the ethnography of the region.
• Wystawy etnologiczne w Domu Pokahalnym – Ethnological exhibitions in the third building of the synagogue complex.

Founded

1981

Admission & discounts

Free admission: On Mondays admission to the exhibitions in the Great Synagogue building is free; for the other exhibitions the ticket then costs PLN 10 (standard) or PLN 7 (reduced).

Guided tours are conducted for organised groups of up to 30 people. Booking two days in advance, Monday to Friday, 8:00–15:00, at +48 82 572 21 78 and +48 538 412 654.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The gate leads to all the buildings. The Great and Little Synagogues have entrances for people with disabilities, and the administrative building (Dom Pokahalny) has a step-free entrance. The visitor rooms are on the ground floor, and the doors and corridors allow movement by wheelchair. In the Little Synagogue the upper floors are reached by lift, and in the men’s hall there is an induction loop. The ground floor of the Great Synagogue, the Little Synagogue and the Dom Pokahalny has a marked toilet for people with disabilities.

Kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

The family ticket covers 2 adults and 2 children under 18. The museum runs educational activities and the “Zachęta” cinema.

Getting there & parking

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

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