| The Old-New Synagogue (Staronová synagoga) is the oldest surviving monument in the Jewish Quarter in Prague, and the oldest active synagogue in Europe.
Completed in 1270, the Old-New Synagogue (also known as Altneuschul) was constructed in the early Gothic style by stone-masons from the royal workshop who were working on the nearby St. Agnes Convent.
It was originally known as the New Synagogue or Great Shul, but its name was changed in the 16th century to distinguish it from newer synagogues being built around it in the Jewish Ghetto.
The Old-New Synagogue was built in stone to a rectangular design. Its most noticeable feature is a high saddle roof, covered in bright orange tiles and capped at both ends with late Gothic gables. Low level annexes were added to three sides of the building at a later date; these are used as a lobby and a gallery for women.
The interior has a double-nave with six vaulted bays. In the middle of the Eastern wall there is a box for the Torah scrolls.
Legend has it that the foundation stones for the Old-New Synagogue were brought by angels from the destroyed Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem, on the condition that they are returned when the temple is rebuilt. Another legend tells us that the body of Golem, a creature made of clay that was brought to life by the Rabbi Loew to protect the Jewish community, lies in the attic.
The Old-New Synagogue has been a house of worship for the Jewish community in Prague for over 700 years, and remains the main house of prayer to the present day - religious services are still held regularly at the synagogue.
To visit the Old-New Synagogue, you need to purchase a Jewish Town ticket. This also includes admission to the other significant historical monuments in the Jewish Quarter.
Alternatively, the Prague Jewish Quarter Tour includes admission and a guided tour of the Old-New Synagogue in its itinerary.
The following Prague tours also include a visit to the Jewish Quarter, to explore the area and see the monuments from the outside:
Old Town & Jewish Quarter Tour
Historical Centre Tour
Historical Centre & Castle Tour
Prague Explorer Tour + Boat Trip
Prague City & Castle Tour + Boat Trip. | 
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