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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Synagogue de Chablis, located at 8-10-12-14 Rue des Juques, is a 16th century house with a Renaissance façade. Originally, it was a medieval synagogue built outside the village, backed by the ramparts, according to the usage of the time. Between the years 800 and 1200, this street housed a flourishing Burgundy Jewish community, made up of winemakers, bankers, artisans and traders. The synagogue, abandoned at the end of the 15th century after the departure of the Jews, was renovated and transformed into a house by a local benefactor, perhaps of Jewish origin, who added a Renaissance façade.

In 1993, the building was listed as historic monuments for its facades and roofs. Beginning in the 2000s, it became subject to ambitious restoration. Nicole Messica de Merteuil, a Californian woman passionate about architecture, discovered the dilapidated building in 1995 and decided to buy it. She settled permanently in Chablis in 2001 to complete her restoration, with the support of local communities and Jewish communities. In 2005, she gave up the monument to William Fèvre, an iconic winemaker of Chablis, who began her restoration between 2006 and 2010.

Under the leadership of William Fèvre, a Jewish Music Festival was created in 2006, bringing life to this historic place. After his death in 2019, the synagogue changed hands several times before being redeemed in January 2025 by Nicole Messica de Merteuil. It then recovered a fully restored building, including the Renaissance façade, 12th century cellars and a mikveh built according to Halakhic standards. Despite centuries of turbulent history, the Synagogue of Chablis remains a rare testimony of the Jewish presence in Burgundy.

The building, long abandoned, survived invasions, evictions and wars thanks to its status as a historic monument and the engagement of individuals. Today, it embodies both the Renaissance architectural heritage and the memory of the medieval Jewish communities of Burgundy. Its recent history, marked by restorations and changes of owners, reflects its cultural and symbolic importance for the Chablis wine region.

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