Synagoga v Podmoklech Synagogue

Welcome to our audio guide. You are standing in front of a former synagogue in Podmoklech near Susice, located in the northern part of the village on the right side of the road leading towards Chmelnou and Susici. Give a moment to this quiet place and let the atmosphere of the old days breathe upon you. In front of you is a building that may at first sight resemble an ordinary house, but it hides a deep and moving story of the local Jewish community.

Let's look into the past and remember how this building came into being. The original sacral structure of the synagogue in Podmoklech was built a year ago nineteen hundred. It served its original religious purpose, i.e. services, until the end of the nineteenth century, namely the year eighteen hundred ninety-nine. At that time the life of the village and the Jewish community was changing, so this chapter of history was closed. After the year eighteen hundred ninety-nine, a fundamental transformation followed and the building was adapted for residential purposes. People have started living a normal life here, which has radically changed the inner nature of the building. The names of architects and specific historical figures associated with the construction have not been preserved until today, but the material legacy of this place itself speaks to us all the more.

Now pay attention to the construction itself in front of you and look closely at its perimeter wall. Although nothing has been preserved from the original equipment in the interior because the inner spaces have been completely adapted for living and we are currently not looking inside, the outside will still reveal much. Some old building elements have been preserved from the outside of the building including the shapes of walled windows in the perimeter wall. In the circumference, these original features are still clear. Try to cross the walls with your eyes and notice these witnesses of the past, who, despite all the modifications and the passing time, have stayed in place and are telling about the original purpose of this building.

The key stories of this place are mainly linked to the transformation of its function. Imagine living in Underwater at the end of the nineteenth century, when the era of religious worship closed. A building that used to serve as a spiritual centre and instead of prayer became a home. This transformation into a residential building saved the building from total extinction, albeit at the cost of losing its inner sacral character.

The interesting thing that gives this place a hallmark of excellence is that the building has been officially recognised for its historical value quite recently. This happened on the twenty-third of December in the year twenty-fifteen, when the building was entered into the state list of cultural monuments of the Czech Republic. By doing so, she gained the well-deserved protection and reminder of her memory value for future generations.

We hope you enjoyed stopping by the Podmokel Synagogue today. When you continue your journey along this picturesque region towards Chmelna or Susici, remember the hidden stories of places that may at first glance look inconspicuous, but in their walls is written the rich history of our ancestors. Thank you for your attention and I look forward to hearing from the next stop.